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Red Cross-sponsored Initiative Reaches Milestone: Measles Deaths Reduced by 60 Percent in Africa
Written by
Amanda Mark
, Redcross.org Staff
Wednesday, November 02, 2005 — NEW YORK – At TIME Magazine’s Global Health Summit in New York, the American Red Cross, along with its other founding partners and supporters of the Measles Initiative, today announced an astounding 60 percent drop in measles cases and deaths in Africa since 1999.
A small child is vaccinated against measles in a recent immunization campaign in Bangladesh. This vaccine costs less than $1 and is highly effective. The Measles Initiative announced today that deaths related to measles have dropped by 60 percent since the program's launch in 2001.
(Photo Credit: Daniel Cima/American Red Cross)
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The Initiative estimates that more than 1 million children continue to live today thanks to vaccination campaigns carried out in 43 countries in Africa over the past five years. By the end of 2005, the Measles Initiative will have vaccinated over 200 million children against measles.
"Immunization against measles is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions," said Dr. Mark Grabowsky, senior technical advisor, American Red Cross. "Yet, while in the developed world measles has been virtually eliminated, in the developing world the virus still infects millions. Measles often results in severe complications, including blindness, pneumonia and encephalitis, and kills hundreds of thousands of children each year."
Adding to Dr. Grabowsky’s comments, American Red Cross President and CEO Marty Evans praised the Initiative.
"The American Red Cross mission is to save lives whether from natural disasters, famine or infectious disease. I truly believe that with the Measles Initiative, we are doing just that," said Evans. "In a world where things are not perfect, we are under budget, exceeding our targets and are ahead of schedule."
The Measles Initiative founders gathered to announce 60 percent drop in measles deaths since the program's inception. From left to right: Ted Turner, Chairman, UN Foundation, Bo Stenson, principal officer and acting deputy executive secretary, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), Edward J. Ludwig, chairman, president and CEO, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Ann Veneman, executive director, UNICEF, Stephen B. Blount, director, Coordinating Office for Global Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (representative from the World Health Organization), Steven E. Carr, chair of the International Services Commmittee, American Red Cross Board of Governors, and Dr. Jim Kim, World Health Organization.
(Photo Credit: Amanda Mark/American Red Cross)
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The Measles Initiative is led by the American Red Cross with partners United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization and is geared towards eliminating the childhood disease of measles through a highly effective, affordable vaccine.
Measles is just one of the many global health concerns addressed at this weeklong summit that gathers industry, non-profit and government leaders. The summit also turned a spotlight on the possible avian flu pandemic, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and other serious health issues around the world.
Two recurring themes discussed at the summit were the request for better partnerships and increased networking between non-profits, governments and industry and the concept of integrated campaigns that combine education, vaccination, supplements and outreach.
Due to the its success in reaching at-risk children, the Initiative most recently held its first nationwide integrated campaign in Togo this past December. This campaign resulted in more than 90 percent of eligible children receiving both measles and polio vaccines, de-worming medicine and malaria prevention bed-nets.
In its fifth year, the Initiative now is expanding its activities to Asian countries that have the highest rate of measles such as Bangladesh, which will host the second half of its vaccination campaign in January, reaching 35 million children.
Additional Funding Committed
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) Chairman Edward J. Ludwig (left) and American Red Cross Board of Governor Member Steven Carr (right) announce $1.7 million commitment from BD to the Measles Initiative at the TIME Global Health Summit in New York City, Nov. 2, 2005.
(Photo Credit: Amanda Mark/American Red Cross)
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United Nations Foundation Chairman Ted Turner announced a $20 million commitment to the Measles Initiative over the next four years, bringing the UN Foundation’s support to more than $57 million since 2001.
“We believe [the Measles Initiative] is a most effective use of dollars,” said Turner – citing that it costs less than one dollar to vaccinate a child in Africa.
Additionally, global medical technology company BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) Chairman Edward Ludwig announced their renewed partnership with the Red Cross to support the Measles Initiative, valued at $1.7 million.
About the Measles Initiative
Launched in February 2001, the Measles Initiative is a partnership formed to reduce and control measles deaths. The Initiative is led by the United Nations Foundation, American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. 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.
Measles, a disease barely remembered by most Americans is one of the leading vaccine-preventable childhood killers in the world. In 2003, more than 500,000 people – 470,000 of them children – died from the disease. Half of these deaths alone were in Africa. Although there is no cure, a safe and highly effective vaccine has been available for over 40 years and it costs less than US $1 to protect a child against measles.
Since 2001, the Measles Initiative has mobilized more than $144 million and supported more than 40 African countries in implementing high-quality measles vaccination campaigns. A measles immunization campaign is a coordinated effort of national governments, health workers, volunteers, and communities to ensure that, within a few days or weeks, every target-aged child in that community is vaccinated against measles.
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