Why Dolly Parton is committing $1m to research on COVID-19 vaccine

As numerous teams across the world are working on research to develop a vaccine for the deadly coronavirus, American singer Dolly Parton says she is committing $1 million (N367m) to the research.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Maurice Iwu, a Professor of Pharmacognosy have also said they have plant-based cure for the deadly virus. According to the World Health Organization, 52 other firms are developing potential vaccines for COVID-19.

Parton announced the donation in a post on her Instagram page and said the donation will go to the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation at Vanderbilt University hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States.

She is taking the step to encourage people who can afford it to also make donations.

The country music superstar wrote on Instagram: "My longtime friend Dr Naji Abumrad, who's been involved in research at Vanderbilt for many years, informed me that they were making some exciting advancements towards that research of the coronavirus for a cure. I am making a donation of $1 million to Vanderbilt towards that research and to encourage people that can afford it to make donations."

According to The Guardian UK, Abumrad who works at Vanderbilt, has been friends with the singer since 2014 after she was involved in a car accident and was treated at Vanderbilt.

Aside contributing to support research on COVID-19 vaccine,  beginning this Thursday, Parton is also launching a weekly 'Goodnight With Dolly,' a bedtime story series on YouTube, where she will be reading children's book to an online audience at bedtime. It will be streamed on Facebook on Thursday.

 

 

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