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Fight Against Measles Grows With Worldwide Support
Written by
Lesly C. Hallman
, Staff Writer and Photographer, RedCross.org
Tuesday, February 22, 2005 — In just under five years, an innovative public health program has saved the lives of more than 300,000 children from a disease most in the United States rarely think of—measles.
The Measles Initiative, in existence since 2001 as a program of the American Red Cross and other international partners, has become one of the most successful public health initiatives in recent history. At the end of its fourth year, the program had coordinated successful measles vaccination for150 million children in 33 countries.
American Red Cross President and CEO Marty Evans addresses participants at the Measles Initiative Partnership meeting.
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Now in its fifth year, partners in the initiative gathered in Washington D.C., earlier this month to report on the progress of its program during 2004, and outline future plans for 2005 and beyond.
“The five year mark is a good opportunity to look back, and to figure out what lies ahead,” said Alan McCurry, American Red Cross Chief Operating Officer. “We’re ahead of schedule, and under budget, something few people working in Washington can say.”
In 2000, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called public health concerns such as measles around the world a natural disaster, with deaths far outweighing those killed by either manmade or natural disasters. Measles is the single leading cause of vaccine-preventable death among children in Africa, and a natural fit in the fight to improve public health around the world.
As the program continues, partners have been looking at ways to increase its effectiveness by adding more vaccinations or services to the mix. In 2004, the integrated campaign in Togo included vaccinations for measles and polio, distribution of insecticide—treated bednets to help stop the spread of malaria from mosquito bites, and mebendazole to prevent worms.
Meeting Highlights Recent Campaign
Togo, a small country in West Africa, is the most recent participant in the campaign. From December 13 to 19, the Togolese Red Cross spearheaded the distribution of measles vaccines to more than 900,000 children from nine months to five years old, and 94 percent of those children were also eligible to receive a bednet.
Dr. Antoinette Awaga from Togo’s Red Cross expressed the country’s commitment to follow up and continue the work started with the campaign.
Togo was the first country to have widespread distribution of measles vaccines and insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) to prevent malaria at the same time in a nationwide campaign. Malaria is also one of the deadliest diseases on the planet. More than a million people die of malaria each year, most of them children under five.
American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha Evans had a chance to visit Togo to witness their campaign firsthand.
The most recent Measles Initiative campaign in Togo included distribution of bednets with measles vaccinations.
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“I was always intellectually involved because the numbers of vaccinations and lives saved were so persuasive,” said Evans of the Measles Initiative. “But having been in Togo, I can say now I’m emotionally involved. You can have all the pictures in the world, but when you see the involvement firsthand, it makes a difference.”
Despite the success of the campaign, Togo also exemplifies the instability that can hamper these efforts. Shortly after its campaign ended, a change in the country’s leadership led to political volatility in the country. Strong political support is something Initiative partners see as key to the success of these campaigns.
Jonas Store, Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross, said he sees the role of Red Cross national societies as the link between grass roots mobilization and the other players in the initiative, including donors.
“How to make it happen at the country level is a continuing struggle, especially when there is weak health or government structures in place,” said Store.
Nevertheless, partners remain committed to moving forward, as eleven additional countries are scheduled to see vaccination campaigns in 2005, reaching an estimated 16.5 million children.
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