Donation Information
Right To Play is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity no. 1112404.
Please donate online by following the link above (through Charity Choice) or send a cheque made payable to "Right To Play UK" to:
Right To Play UK39 - 43 Brewer Street,
London,
W1F 9UD
+44 (0) 207 734 7946
Manchester United's Carlos Queiroz Shines at Mozambique's Immunization Campaign
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Carlos greeting a football team at a |
Maputo, Mozambique, June 2005 - Manchester United's Assistant Manager Carlos Queiroz recently traveled to Mozambique to promote the country's National Measles & Polio Immunization Campaign. "Every child has the right to health, and I am very happy to be able to support this campaign to protect young lives," said Mozambique-born Carlos.
Arriving in the capital, Carlos drew great media attention and expertly explained the importance of immunization and the need to protect Mozambican children. He linked the relationship between health and sports, and spoke of the upcoming soccer tournament in his home-town of Nampula, organized by Right To Play, and designed to mobilize children and youth around the campaign and help drive vaccinations.
At the same time, TVs and radios across the country broadcasted Carlos delivering the same important message in his native language of Portuguese. Children and parents listened to this well-respected coach and athlete as he encouraged children to get immunized. (click here to see Carlos' TV ads with English subtitles).
The Immunization Campaign, organized with the cooperation of Mozambique's Ministry of Health, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and Right To Play, aims to immunize every child in the country aged nine months to 14 years against measles, and every child under five against polio. In addition, children under the age of 59 months will receive Vitamin A supplements. In order to administer the vaccinations, temporary vaccination posts are being set up around the country, where children will be vaccinated free of charge.
To further support the campaign, Carlos also met with Mozambique's Minister of Health to discuss the Immunization Campaign and the importance of sport for healthy lives. The Minister also happened to be an old friend of Carlos’ with whom he played football in his youth. Carlos was also invited to
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Carlos giving a Polio vaccination at |
The highlight of Carlos’ trip was attending a SportHealth football tournament in his home-town of Nampula. Organized by Right To Play, this tournament succeeded in bringing together the community in great numbers. Carlos happily kicked off the game, greeted all of the players, sat in the crowd, signed autographs, posed for endless photos, consoled a crying girl whose team lost in the final, and immunized four children. At the end of the tournament, Carlos brilliantly captured the audience when he addressed the crowd. He had all the children screaming out "Immunizacao" along with repeated chants of "Obrigado" (thank-you) to both UNICEF and Right To Play.
After the event, “Carlos reminisced with us about playing on the pitch where the soccer tournament was held when he was young. He spoke fondly of his early years in Nampula,” said Right To Play Project Coordinator Blake Gray.
"As a role model for children in Mozambique, Carlos has a very powerful voice. We are delighted that Manchester United is supporting such an important campaign through Carlos' involvement," added a spokesperson for UNICEF.
