More than 130’000 Red Cross and Red Crescent Volunteers play a key role in reducing measles deaths around the world.
Measles remains one of the leading causes of death among young children, especially in developing countries. Even though it costs less than one US dollar to vaccinate a child against measles, 450 children died from the disease every day in 2008.
Despite these challenges, dramatic progress has been made to reduce the impact of measles, a highly infectious disease. On 3 December, new figures were released by the Measles Initiative showing that global measles deaths have fallen by 78 per cent. This is equivalent to 164,000 deaths in 2008 compared to some 733,000 deaths in 2000. In total, it is estimated that as many as 4.3 million deaths have been prevented since 2001 due to widespread campaigns and increases in routine immunization.
These numbers are impressive, but it is crucial to further increase efforts and maintain high vaccination levels if gains are to be sustained. Measles outbreaks across a number of African countries in 2009, as well as in developed nations, remind us that progress is fragile; the death toll due to measles will rise again if we do not remain vigilant.
Challenges remain
“Despite this notable success, challenges remain,” says Kate Elder, in charge of measles and polio programmes at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva. “2009 measles outbreaks, such as in South Africa which affected more than 2,500 children, show us that we must continue build on the successes of large scale campaigns until routine immunization rates cross an acceptable threshold. Our community based volunteers will continue to help on both fronts, during national measles vaccination campaigns and in the promotion of routine immunization,” she adds.
The IFRC supports the Measles Initiative, a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. Launched in 2001 and led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization, the Measles Initiative provides technical and financial support to governments and communities for vaccination campaigns and disease surveillance. The Initiative has supported the vaccination of more than 700 million children in over 60 countries.
Door to door
More than 130,000 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers all over the world took part in various vaccination campaigns last year building on the pioneering role of the American Red Cross in mobilizing resources against measles. “Our community based volunteers go door to door informing, educating and motivating mothers and caregivers about the critical need to vaccinate their children,” explains Dominique Praplan, Head of the IFRC’s Health and Social Services Department in Geneva; “the key social mobilization role these volunteers play, particularly in reaching the most vulnerable, is recognized by all partners as an important element for successful campaigns. We hope that our collective work will help to ensure that the target of reaching a 90 per cent global measles mortality reduction by 2010 is met.”
Thanks to financial and technical support raised by its Global Measles and Polio Initiative, the IFRC has supported Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies to participate in over 60 separate measles campaigns. Funds raised by the IFRC initiative help to provide small grants to National Societies for the recruitment and training of volunteers. These volunteers can reach the remotest communities to disseminate vital information about measles prevention.
More vaccination campaigns needed
According to the Measles Initiative, South-East Asia is the only region that has not achieved the 90 per cent reduction goal. The situation in India is particularly worrisome. Large-scale vaccination campaigns must be implemented in India, which currently accounts for the majority of global measles deaths, if further global reductions in measles mortality are to be achieved.
“"The stark contrast between child mortality in developing countries versus developed countries is unacceptable,” says Kate Elder. “The IFRC - through Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - will further increase its contribution but there is also an urgent need to meet the Measles Initiative funding gap of US$ 59 million for 2010 to prevent a resurgence of measles deaths and risk reversing all the investment and progress to date. Vaccination against measles, and childhood vaccination in general, is a critical intervention for reducing childhood mortality and reaching the Millenium Development Goals 4: reducing under five mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015,” she concludes.
“Measles is incredibly resilient and our success is fragile,” said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the American Red Cross. “If we drop our guard, this disease will regain a foothold and spread like wildfire once again. We must stay vigilant.” In 2010, measles vaccination campaigns supported by the Measles Initiative are scheduled in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, Somalia,South Africa, Sudan, Togo, Vietnam, and Zambia.
In addition to the American Red Cross as a founding partner of the Measles Initiative, the IFRC’s involvement in measles campaigns is further supported by the Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish Red Cross Soceities.
More information can be found at IFRC’s special web section dedicated to Measles and at www.measlesinitiative.org