(Photo credit: Daniel Cima/American Red Cross) Dr. Mark Grabowsky, senior technical advisor for the Measles Initiative, explains how the measles vaccine is delivered to Sherry Lansing and Sidney Poitier.
Star power supports Red Cross vaccination program
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JANUARY 30, 2006
By Happynews Staff, Lesly C. Simmons

Famed actor and director Sidney Poitier and Sherry Lansing, former head of Paramount Pictures, joined a delegation from the American Red Cross to see first hand the impact of the Measles Initiative program, a program led by the American Red Cross to eliminate measles deaths in sub-Saharan Africa and now in Asia.
Lansing, a member of the Red Cross Board of Governors since 2002, invited Poitier to join her in Benin. From 1992 to 2005, Lansing was chair of the Motion Picture Group of Paramount Pictures. She also knew of Poitier’s personal connection to the Red Cross, going back more than 60 years. When he arrived in New York City as a teenager in the 1940s with no money and no home, Poitier got help from a local Red Cross chapter.
“When I was in need of assistance, the Red Cross was the organization that came to my aid,” said Poitier during a press conference in Benin. “I have since that time been a friend and supporter.”
The pair arrived quietly and spent the trip learning about all aspects of the Initiative, and ultimately both were deeply moved by the experience.
“There was such a purity of the children,” said Lansing. “I was just so proud to see them. All the little kids dress up and you realize because of the efforts of the Red Cross, hundreds of thousands of lives are being saved.”
Despite maintaining a low profile during his visit to Benin, Poitier inevitably attracted attention, and graciously signed autographs and took pictures with fans.
In addition to inviting Poitier, Lansing has made it her mission to involve Hollywood in supporting the Red Cross. She created major fundraisers that also provided the Red Cross with visibility in the Hollywood community, including the premieres of “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life” in 2003 and “War of the Worlds” in 2004. Lansing also chairs the Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet.
“I’ve really tried to bring the Hollywood community into the Red Cross fold,” said Lansing. “I talked to Sidney about coming with me, because the Red Cross helped him in his youth, and it really made a difference to see the faces of the kids, and the whole program, through his eyes.”
During the trip, Poitier and Lansing saw several vaccination posts in Benin, visited a memorial to slaves taken from the region, and made a visit to see the United States Ambassador to Benin, Wayne Neill. Poitier serves as the Bahamas Ambassador to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Poitier said his interest in visiting Benin was as much about learning about himself as it was learning about the country and the Measles Initiative.
“I have a curiosity about self,” he said. “I suspect that the more I get to know about Africa, the more I know about myself. I wanted to see this part of the continent, the culture of life and how the people live.”
Poitier called the Measles Initiative “a phenomenal accomplishment.”
“I don’t think I truly would have known about this unbelievable work being done” if I didn’t see it for myself, said Poitier. “It appears that the Red Cross, the CDC, the WHO, and UNICEF are making a huge difference, not only in Benin, but in other parts of the world.”
In all, Benin’s campaign vaccinated more than 1.1 million children from nine months to five years old against measles during its five day campaign.
Launched in February 2001, the Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children and preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. Leading this effort is the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and countries and governments affected by measles. While the Measles Initiative is focused in Africa where the majority of measles-related deaths occur, partners also work on a wide-range of health initiatives around the world, including measles control and other vaccination services outside of Africa.
You can help eliminate measles-related deaths in Africa by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross for the Measles Initiative. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Measles Initiative may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, International Services – Measles Initiative, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.