Measles
Deaths in Africa Dropped by Nearly Half Over Five
Years
More than 400,000 child lives saved so far in
Africa where most deaths occur
WASHINGTON,
March 10, 2005 — Measles Initiative partners
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently announced
that global measles deaths have plummeted by 39
percent, from 873,000 in 1999 to an estimated
530,000 in 2003 . The largest reduction occurred
in Africa, the region with the highest burden
of the disease, where estimated measles deaths
decreased by 46 percent.
"Five
years ago, an African child died every minute
from measles, a disease that has had a safe, effective,
and relatively inexpensive vaccine for more than
40 years. The Measles Initiative, a contributing
factor to this reduction, was formed on the basis
that these deaths were preventable and a massive
number of young lives could be saved for less
than one dollar per child,” said Dr. Mark
Grabowsky, American Red Cross senior technical
advisor. “Our success in reducing measles
deaths shows the power of a commitment to save
lives and reach each at-risk child.”
The Measles
Initiative works closely with governments of countries
affected by measles, African communities and partners
to make sure each at-risk child is reached with
free measles vaccinations and other appropriate
health interventions. Launched in 2001, Initiative
partners the American Red Cross, WHO, UNICEF,
the United Nations Foundation and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention have helped
African countries vaccinate more than 150 million
children against measles.
Prevention
through vaccinations is the key for children to
survive measles. So far, essentially all of the
33 measles vaccination campaigns carried out in
Africa since 2001 have reached the goal of at
least 90 percent of the targeted population. Dr.
Lubega, a pediatrician at Mulago Hospital in Uganda,
said during a campaign "It really breaks
my heart to see so many children dying when you
know these deaths can be prevented with a highly
effective measles vaccine. It is very overwhelming
to see so many sick kids knowing that with one
shot they could live."
Since health
resources for children are not always readily
available in Africa, diseases 'compete' for these
limited resources. When measles vaccination campaigns
are carried out, measles wards empty and don't
fill up again, and beds open up for children suffering
from other diseases. The Initiative effectively
increases hospital capacity to treat more children.
Within a few weeks after a campaign, hospital
bed capacity increases, due to the decrease in
measles cases. "We want to prevent the disease
rather than treat it," said Dr. Makumbi,
Director of Uganda National Expanded Programme
of Immunisation (UNEPI). "Children who get
measles in Africa have a good chance of dying
from it."
Measles Initiative
– Add One
Significant
contributions have been made to the Measles Initiative
by the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA), Norwegian Aid, Japanese International
Agency for Cooperation (JICA), The Vaccine Fund,
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Vodafone
Foundation, DHL, Sanofi-Synthelabs and Vestergaard-Frandsen.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
Semnani Foundation, ExxonMobil, Starwood, and
Izumi Foundation have made generous contributions.
The International Federation of Red Cross and
Red Crescent Societies, the Canadian Red Cross,
the Norwegian Red Cross, and the New Zealand Red
Cross have made important financial contributions.
Social mobilization, the process to educate and
encourage families to bring their children to
be vaccinated, is carried out by African Red Cross
societies.
Launched in
February 2001, the Measles Initiative is a long-term
commitment to control measles deaths in Africa
by vaccinating 200 million children and preventing
1.2 million deaths over five years. Leading this
effort is the American Red Cross, United Nations
Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), United Nations 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.
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.
To make a financial
contribution, call 1-800 HELP NOW or to make a
secure online donation, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org.
Note
to Editors:
Spokespeople are available from the Measles Initiative
partners and workers and volunteers in Africa.
Video footage from recent measles campaigns is
available.
Contacts:
Julie Irby, American Red Cross (202) 303-4264
office (M/F), (202) 439-0722 cell, irbyj@usa.redcross.org
UN Foundation (202) 887-9040 office
Hayatee Hasan, WHO (41) 22 791 21 03 office, hasanh@who.int
