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Initiative Cuts Measles Deaths by Almost Half
Written by
Lesly C. Hallman
, Staff Writer and Photographer, RedCross.org
Thursday, March 10, 2005 — Deaths by measles have been cut almost in half over the last five years thanks in part to mass vaccination campaigns supported by the Measles Initiative. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund announced March 3 that deaths have fallen by 39 percent between 1999 and 2003 from 873,000 to an estimated 530,000.
In Africa, where the majority of measles deaths occur, the change was even greater, with a 46 percent reduction in measles deaths.
Millions of children across Africa have benefited from vaccinations supported by the Measles Initiative.
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Since its inception in 2001, the Measles Initiative, a program of the American Red Cross and other international partners, has vaccinated more than 150 million children against the disease. Partners in the Measles Initiative include the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation (UN Foundation), UNICEF, WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
"In many places where families once lived in fear of losing their children to measles, they're now protected by an effective and inexpensive vaccine," said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF. "What clearer proof could there be of the value of investing in immunization?"
In a joint strategic plan, WHO and UNICEF found 45 countries with high numbers of measles cases to implement a plan for measles mortality reduction. Parts of that plan included high routine immunization coverage of at least 90 percent in every district targeted, and ensuring that all children have a second chance for measles immunization if they miss the first.
Each of the 33 measles vaccination campaigns carried out in Africa since 2001 have reached at least 90 percent of the targeted population.
The Initiative will continue to grow, as representatives from around the world met in Washington, D.C. last month for the annual Measles Partnership meeting, where they discussed both successes of the past and plans for moving forward. Eleven additional countries are scheduled to see vaccination campaigns in 2005, reaching an estimated 16.5 million children.
The American Red Cross also recently committed $35 million to the UN Foundation to support vaccinations for children in tsunami-affected areas through the Measles Initiative. Activities are already underway in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, one of the areas most affected by December’s tsunami, including measles vaccinations and Vitamin A drops for all children displaced by the disaster aged nine months to 15 years old.
Launched in February 2001, the Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children and preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. While the Measles Initiative is focused in Africa where the majority of measles-related deaths occur, partners also work on a wide-range of health initiatives around the world, including measles control and other vaccination services outside of Africa. For more information about the Measles Initiative, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org.
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