BRAZIL: British supermodel Naomi Campbell speaks out about Rio de Janeiro's dengue epidemic and offers to donate blood for campaign
Record ID:
186930
BRAZIL: British supermodel Naomi Campbell speaks out about Rio de Janeiro's dengue epidemic and offers to donate blood for campaign
- Title: BRAZIL: British supermodel Naomi Campbell speaks out about Rio de Janeiro's dengue epidemic and offers to donate blood for campaign
- Date: 17th April 2008
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (APRIL 15, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BLOOD DONOR CENTER, HEMORIO (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) BRITISH SUPERMODEL NAOMI CAMPBELL INSIDE BLOOD DONOR CLINIC TALKING TO OTHER DONORS PHOTOGRAPHERS VARIOUS OF BRITISH SUPERMODEL NAOMI CAMPBELL BEFORE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH SUPERMODEL NAOMI CAMPBELL, SAYING: "I love Brazil as you know, I am an ambassador of Rio. Basically, it's not about blaming everybody. I think the government needs to come together and find a way to make a solution, improving the hospitals and the care in the hospitals for the people with dengue." VARIOUS OF BRITISH SUPERMODEL NAOMI CAMPBELL POSING FOR PHOTOS BRITISH SUPERMODEL NAOMI CAMPBELL LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Entertainment,Health
- Reuters ID: LVA20LBDCO1NRX2ZQ5SM2ORH5H9X
- Story Text: Supermodel Naomi Campbell visited a Rio de Janeiro blood donor center on Tuesday (April 15) to support the fight against a dengue fever epidemic but her offer to give blood was rejected.
Campbell said she was turned down because she had surgery in February, when she was rushed to a hospital in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo to have a cyst removed.
Wearing a white "Rio Against Dengue" T-shirt, the supermodel went on to advise Rio residents on how to combat the outbreak, which has killed about 50 people and made nearly 60,000 sick in the city.
At least 80 people have died of the mosquito-borne disease in Rio de Janeiro state although there are signs that the outbreak is now under control with cases falling sharply and smaller lines of infected people outside clinics in the city.
Campbell called herself Rio's ambassador and demanded government action.
"I love Brazil, as you know, I am the ambassador of Rio.
Basically, it's not about blaming everybody, I think the government needs to come together and find a way to make a solution, improving the hospitals and the care in the hospitals for the people with dengue," said the 37-year-old model, who is a frequent visitor to Brazil.
The potentially fatal haemorrhage form of dengue has left hospitals facing a shortage of blood for transfusions.
Health experts have criticised authorities for allowing large mosquito populations to form, especially in poor areas of the tourist city that have borne the brunt of cases, and for being unprepared for an outbreak.
Known for her fiery temper, Campbell hit the headlines last week when she was escorted off a British Airways flight in London and arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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