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Making History: Measles Vaccination Campaign in Bangladesh is Largest Ever
Targets 33.5 million children
Brian Hatchell, Press Officer, American Red Cross Tsunami Recovery Program
Tuesday, April 04, 2006 — Dhaka, Bangladesh — As Reba Huran Al-Rashid stood in line at the local school with her three children for their measles vaccinations, her only concern was protecting her family. She had no idea they were also making history.
This is one of the 33.5 million children who will receive a measles vaccination over a three week period in Bangadesh.
(Photo Credit: Brian Hatchell/American Red Cross)
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"At some point in time all three of my children have had measles. When my eldest boy, seven year old Meatdi got sick, he had a high fever for three days. We were worried he might die," said Al-Rashid. "This is a very good campaign, good for the health of our children. When they get vaccinated they develop a resistance to the disease. If they don't get vaccinated they can get sick and die."
Measles is the leading vaccine-preventable disease worldwide, killing an estimated 470,000 children each year. In Bangladesh, approximately 20,000 children die annually from measles-related illnesses, but the disease can be easily prevented with a simple vaccination that costs less than one dollar per child.
From February 25 through March 16, the Measles Initiative partners, the American Red Cross, UN Foundation, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), UNICEF and World Health Organization (WHO), supported the Bangladesh government in vaccinating more than 33.5 million children between nine months and 10 years old. The Bangladesh campaign is the largest measles mass vaccination of its kind in history. The scope of the campaign is like vaccinating the entire population of California in just three weeks.
In order to accomplish this feat, the Bangladesh Ministry of Health recruited more than 800,000 volunteers and promoted the campaign via radio, television, print and door-to-door canvassing.
Nasrin Aktar is one of 600 volunteers from the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, which is mobilizing people and helping coordinate the campaign.
"I'm proud to be involved in the largest health campaign in Bangladesh and the world," said Aktar. "My wish is that this campaign will eliminate measles and that none of my brothers and sisters in Bangladesh will ever die from measles again."
This campaign is a joint effort by the Government of Bangladesh and the Measles Initiative partners. Over the last five years the Measles Initiative partners have supported 41 countries in vaccinating more than 200 million children, saving 1.2 million lives. Following the success of campaigns initially held in Africa, the Measles Initiative partners have expanded the program into Asia this year.
Bangladesh is among the first Asian countries to engage in a mass vaccination campaign. Currently 30 per cent of children in Bangladesh miss routine vaccinations, creating a cycle of infection, illness and death.
"There were 26 outbreaks of measles just in Dhaka city alone in 2005, affecting more than 5,000 people," said Dr. Mizanur Rahman, health officer for WHO. "Sixty percent of those infected suffered from complications such as pneumonia, diarrhea or ear infections."
Therefore, organizers wanted to make sure the campaign not only saved lives, but educated parents.
According to Dr. Mohamed Muniruzzaman, a pediatrician in country's capital of Dhaka, this campaign will have a long lasting impact on the country's health.
"This campaign has created great public awareness of the importance of vaccinating children," said Dr. Muniruzzaman. "Parents are asking questions about measles, but also about other routine vaccinations."
That message appears to be getting through.
"I remember when I was younger, around nine years old, I was very sick with measles, and then three years later I got sick again," said Mohamed Sakan Ali, a father of two. "I brought my son, two-year-old Abed, to be vaccinated in order to reduce the chances of his getting measles. But I will also make sure to follow up with other vaccines to keep him healthy for years to come."
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