Red Cross Nurses Support Measles and Rubella Initiative

It’s National Nurses Week and the American Red Cross recognizes the thousands of nurses and student nurses who serve the organization today.

During National Nurses Week, the Red Cross National Nursing Committee (NNC) announces it is supporting the American Red Cross Measles and Rubella Initiative with a goal of raising $50,000 in the next year to help control the spread of measles around the world.

The NNC will work closely with partner nursing organizations and their memberships to encourage donations to the fund. The plan is to encourage members of the Nursing Network at the Red Cross as well as nursing organizations that have a national and International mission to support the Measles and Rubella Initiative and eradicate measles by the year 2020. You can support this effort here.

What is the Measles and Rubella Initiative? In 2001 the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and World Health Organization launched the Measles and Rubella Initiative to help control the spread of measles and reduce measles-related deaths.

The partnership first took aim at making a difference in Africa. That aim expanded and in the last 15 years, the American Red Cross and its Initiative partners have helped to vaccinate two billion children in 88 developing countries. The partners provide technical and financial support to governments and communities, supporting mass vaccination campaigns, improving immunization services and establishing effective disease surveillance.

The NNC is comprised of nurses and other leaders from all Red Cross lines of service as well as members in other health and mental health professions who work to promote and guide nursing and other health professional involvement across the Red Cross.

BECOME A RED CROSS NURSE Red Cross nurses have been contributing to their communities and country almost since the inception of the American Red Cross. Today they respond to disasters, providing health services such as minor first aid and replacing lost medications and eyeglasses. They volunteer in military clinics and hospitals, supporting members of the Armed Forces.

Red Cross nurses help promote blood donations. They teach and help develop courses such as CPR and First Aid, Disaster Health Services, Nurse Assistant Training and Babysitting. Nurses also serve in management and supervisory roles in Red Cross chapters and blood regions and in leadership roles on local Red Cross boards and the national Board of Governors.

If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, CNA or student in any of these professions, consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Contact your local Red Cross to learn about volunteer openings in your community.