PolioPlus Update
Photo courtesy of the Ethiopian News Agency
Rotarians taking part in a polio immunization
campaign in
star power for the eradication effort. Singer
Beyoncé Knowles, scheduled to perform in Addis
Ababa, met the group and helped administer the
oral polio vaccine before taking the stage on 20
October.
The 26-year-old, who immunized 10 youth said, "I
want to encourage all . parents to give this
vaccination to their children. It really benefits their health."
"Beyoncé was so impressed [with] our commitment to not only provide funding but to make the trip
to administer the vaccine," said Ezra Teshome, of the Rotary Club of University District of Seattle,
1971 and has headed up seven other immunization drives in his homeland.
The fight to end polio has made significant progress in
case of the disease this year. The country recorded 22 cases in 2005 and 17 in 2006 after an
outbreak in the Horn of Africa.
In addition to raising and contributing funds, over one million Rotarians have volunteered their time
and personal resources to help vaccinate more than two billion children in 122 countries during
national immunization campaigns.
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