More
than 200 global advocates for measles elimination in Africa
and Asia are gathering on 27 and 28 February at the American
Red Cross headquarters in Washington, DC. They will review the
extraordinary progress achieved since 2001 when the first annual
meeting was held and advocates pledged to work in a global partnership
to address the high measles mortality in Africa. This year’s
meeting also allows the more than 25 agencies to share their
plans and resources for continued accelerated measles vaccination
efforts in 2007-2008.
This 7th annual meeting follows the November 2006 announcement
by the Measles Initiative founding members (The American Red
Cross, the UN Foundation, UNICEF and WHO) on the remarkable
75% reduction in measles mortality in Africa and the 60% reduction
worldwide since this group banded together six years ago.
Speakers presented results from more the nine national vaccination
campaigns in 2006 which reached more than 63 million children
under 5 years of age. Since 2001, the partners have raised more
than 150 million US$ and have vaccinated more than 250 million
children. The meeting especially focused on documenting the
major impact achieved so far and described the improved systems
of measles case and death surveillance throughout Africa. The
Initiative has resulted in averting millions of child deaths
through the provision of these simple measles vaccinations.
The International Federation speaker, Public Health Advisor
Jean Roy, highlighted how from 1996 to 2000, the International
Federation persistently advocated for a global consortium to
address Africa’s high and neglected measles mortality.
Two International Federation visionaries, Drs. Joachim Kreysler
and Hakan Sandbladh, encouraged the American Red Cross to work
with its national counterparts at the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), and to form a global consortium of interested
agencies, donors, and NGOs.
After four years of global lobbying, the Founding partners and
more than 20 other interested parties met in February 2001 and
pledged their support to measles control. Jean Roy noted how
civil society organizations can play a vital role as brokers
for agencies, governments and institutions much as ROTARY International
has done for polio eradication and Red Cross for advocating
for the Africa Measles Initiative.
In recognition of their visionary efforts, Drs. Joachim Kreysler
and Hakan Sandbladh were awarded the International Federation’s
2007 Public Health award. The citation states “that noting
in 1996 the enduring high measles morbidity and mortality in
African children, that the Pan American Health Organization
had successfully eliminated measles in the Americas, and that
there was no advocacy for measles control in Africa, they thereby
advocated that a consortium be formed to address Africa’s
measles disaster”.
Building on successes achieved last year, the Measles Initiative
partners will further increase their efforts, with campaigns
in 14 countries to vaccinate more than 23 million children.
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The
Initiative has resulted in averting millions of child
deaths through the provision of these simple measles vaccinations.
The results have been impressive. In Africa, the measles
death rate has dropped by 75% since 1999. (p15415)
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