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Public Health Experts Gather at Annual Measles Meeting
Written by
Lesly C. Simmons
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Friday, February 17, 2006 — Representatives of global health programs from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 14 and 15 to applaud the progress and plan the future of the Measles Initiative as the innovative program moves into its sixth year.
The sixth annual Partners for Measles Advocacy meeting took place at American Red Cross National Headquarters. The meeting each winter gives attendees the opportunity to share information and gather new ideas on eliminating some of the planet’s deadliest diseases, including measles and malaria.
David Meltzer, Senior Vice President for American Red Cross International Services described the meeting as a “celebration” of the programs successes to date. The first five years of the campaign focused on the continent of Africa, where more than 40 countries have held vaccination campaigns since 2001. The results of those campaigns are nothing short of astounding—200 million children vaccinated against measles, leading to a 60 percent drop in deaths from the disease.
More than 30 million children in Bangladesh will be vaccinated against measles in 2006, thanks to the Measles Initiative and its partners around the world.
(Photo Credit: American Red Cross) |
“One thing remains clear as we begin these meetings to talk about our past successes and our future plans,” said Meltzer. “The Measles Initiative has within it the organizations and dedicated individuals with all the skills, the expertise, the leadership, and of course the commitment, to meet the challenges ahead.”
The Measles Initiative is a partnership between the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World health Organization (WHO). Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and countries and governments affected by measles.
Initiative partners most recently completed campaigns in Benin in West Africa, and the Maldives in Asia. The program makes a huge leap into Asia later this month, when a three week campaign will reach more than 30 million children from nine months to 10 years old. The campaign will be the largest public health undertaking in the history of Bangladesh; and the largest measles vaccination campaign in history.
All told, campaigns will reach millions of children in 2006 across Asia, as the Measles Initiative expands its efforts into the continent with a new global goal to reduce measles deaths by 90 percent by 2010.
“Measles cases and deaths in Africa have dropped by 60 percent since 1999 largely due to the Initiative's efforts and improvements in routine vaccination campaigns,” said UN Foundation Chairman Ted Turner in a press release. “The Initiative partners will now use this same model to support governments and countries in Asia, including Bangladesh, to help stem the tide of these needless deaths."
As the program moves forward, many countries are planning their second campaigns, and looking at ways to integrate additional public health interventions, including bed nets to prevent malaria, vaccinations for other diseases including polio, and de-worming or nutritional interventions.
“The real success is the relief all of us are able to provide to families and their children,” said Meltzer.”
Even with its expansion into other parts of the world, the Initiative will still do significant work in Africa. Campaigns are planned in about 18 African countries in 2006, including one targeting more than 20 million children for measles vaccinations in Nigeria alone.
To learn more about where the Measles Initiative is operating this year, visit the Map and Country Activities section at MeaslesInitiative.org.
The Measles Initiative is a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. Launched in 2001, the Initiative—led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization—provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns worldwide. To date, the Initiative has supported the vaccination of more than 600 million children in more than 60 countries helping reduce measles deaths by 74% globally and 89% in Africa (compared to 2000).. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.measlesinitiative.org.
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