Haitian-born music star Wyclef Jean is again helping his homeland, getting the word out in an effort to vaccinate more than five million children and youth against measles and rubella -- preventable diseases which kill Haiti's children in droves each year.
The producer, solo-standout and Fugees star kicked off the second phase of the ALAS project with a new public service announcement aimed at the citizens of the impoverished island nation (watch above). ... Wyclef is a founding member of the ALAS Foundation.
Millions of young Haitians are not vaccinated against measles and rubella. The effort is expected to prevent more than 1,200 CRS cases over the next decade and is part of a larger effort by the countries of the
The first phase of the vaccination drive, launched last November, was a success and delivered vaccines to an estimated 2.3 million young people in rural areas and some urban schools.
"Rubella is a totally preventable disease that no one in Haiti or anywhere else should have to suffer from," said Wyclef. "This campaign is making it possible for parents to protect their children from the terrible effects of this disease."
Wyclef has been credited with changing thousands of lives in Haiti by supporting projects in education, health, the environment and community development.
Top Photo by gcoll © PAHO-WHO (2007)
1. It great to see an artist give back to his community in such a helpful way, we need more like him.
Mike at 10:22PM on May 5th 2008