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Gambia Gears Up for Measles Initiative Campaign
Written by
Bonnie Gillespie
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Tuesday, December 09, 2003 — BANJUL, Gambia - Stretching along the banks of the Gambia River, Africa’s smallest nation -- the Republic of the Gambia -- is plagued by many problems, from intense poverty to poor medical care. Chief among the country’s concerns is the leading preventable childhood killer in the world – measles.
Children in Gambia, Africa's smallest nation, line up to receive the life-saving measles vaccination. |
More than 240,000 Gambian children are at risk of contracting the deadly disease, but because of the cooperative efforts of Measles Initiative partners, that staggering statistic is about to change. Beginning Dec. 8, the Measles Initiative is offering free life-saving vaccinations to children in communities nationwide, from the capital of Banjul on the Atlantic coast to the eastern border city of Basse Santa Su.
“The measles campaign is going to make a very big impact on Gambia,” said Paamat Jagme, Volunteer and Youth Management Officer for the Gambia Red Cross.
“As a Gambian, you believe that you will have measles at least once in your life because it is just that common, and so many people die from it.”
Every year in Africa, more than 12 million children contract measles and almost half a million die as a result. Those whose lives are spared by the vicious disease often suffer an assortment of complications, from weakened immune systems causing them to contract pneumonia and other health problems to severe scarring of the skin. Fostering complications is the impoverished environment in which many of Africa’s children live.
To combat the measles epidemic, the American Red Cross, along with the United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) formed the Measles Initiative partnership in 2001. Committed to vaccinating 200 million African children against measles by 2005, the Gambia campaign is the 24th in a country-by-country effort and will save more than 400 young Gambian lives.
Paamat Jagme, Volunteer and Youth Management Officer for the Gambia Red Cross.
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“People know how bad measles is and that it is deadly, but they also know that a vaccine will keep you from getting it,” said Jagme. “So when you give them a life-saving vaccine for free they will be very excited. You see that excitement in Gambia right now.”
That liveliness is evident in the streets and markets of the West African nation, where a rich cultural heritage thrives amid modern innovations. As overcrowded buses edge past horse drawn carts, uniformed school children clamor to be the first in line at the measles vaccination post in their neighborhoods. News of the campaign’s arrival is spread by Gambia Red Cross volunteers by word of mouth, neighbor to neighbor, child to child.
“Our Red Cross volunteers visited every house and we know the people are coming to the posts and bringing their children to be vaccinated,” said Lamin Jammeh, Secretary General of the Gambia Red Cross. “We are expecting at least 90 percent vaccination rate for the Measles Initiative campaign here in Gambia and it will largely be because of the social mobilization that took place.”
On a continent where modern health care is often misunderstood, especially in rural areas, Gambia Red Cross volunteers worked for weeks to ensure that each family was informed about the vital importance of measles vaccinations.
The Gambian children learned about the vaccinations from Gambia Red Cross volunteers who went house to house to spread the news.
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“The volunteers are so dedicated -- we have 740 volunteers across the country who are helping us during the measles campaign,” Jagme said. “We don’t have problems getting volunteers for the Gambia Red Cross because people know the work we do is important.”
Assisting in the Gambia measles campaign is a team of volunteers from the American Red Cross, including four youth volunteers whose combined efforts have raised thousands of dollars for the Measles Initiative. Through donations of supporters like Air France airlines, American Red Cross volunteers are able to observe and assist firsthand in the life-saving program.
“In Gambia, we take care of everybody – that means every person within our borders – because we want each person to be safe from this terrible sickness of measles,” said Secretary Jammeh. “We are so proud of all the involvement in the measles campaign and the American Red Cross being here to support us. It is so gratifying for us to wake in the mornings and having a chance to help others.”
With each passing hour, 51 more children will have died in Africa as a result of measles. You can help save a life now by donating to the Measles Initiative.
Click here to make a secure online donation to support the Measles Initiative.
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