Global
Goal to Reduce Measles Deaths in Children Surpassed
Measles Deaths Fall By 60 Per Cent
NEW YORK/GENEVA, 19 January
2007 — Measles deaths have fallen by 60
per cent worldwide since 1999 – a major
public health success. This exceeds the United
Nations goal to halve measles deaths between 1999
and 2005 and is largely due to an unprecedented
decline in measles deaths in the African region.
The progress was announced today by partners in
the Measles Initiative: the American Red Cross,
the United States Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Foundation,
UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to new data from WHO, global measles
deaths fell from an estimated 873,000 deaths in
1999 to 345,000 in 2005. In Africa, the progress
has been even greater, with measles deaths falling
by 75 per cent, from an estimated 506,000 to 126,000.
The data will be published in this week’s
edition of The Lancet.
“This is an historic victory for global
public health, for the power of partnership and
for commitment by countries to fight a terrible
disease," said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General.
"Our promise to cut measles deaths by half
and save hundreds of thousands of lives has not
only been fulfilled, it has been surpassed in
just six years with Africa leading the way."
The 75 per cent reduction in measles deaths in
Africa is due to the firm commitment and resources
of national governments, and support from the
Measles Initiative. It is described as “a
spectacular achievement,” by Mr. U Olanguena
Awono, Minister of Public Health, Cameroon. “We
are winning the fight against measles, which has
long killed, sickened and disabled our children.
Our determination is stronger than ever to make
measles history by further strengthening our measles
control activities, working in concert with our
international partners and setting aside resources.”
A strategy to reduce measles mortality, consisting
of four components, has been key to ensuring the
massive global decrease in measles deaths. The
strategy calls for the provision of one dose of
measles vaccine for all infants via routine health
services; a second opportunity for measles immunization
for all children, generally through mass vaccination
campaigns; effective surveillance for measles;
and enhanced care, including the provision of
supplemental vitamin A.
As a result of this strategy, between 1999 and
2005, global measles immunization coverage with
the first routine dose increased from 71 per cent
to 77 per cent, and more than 360 million children
aged 9 months to 15 years received measles vaccine
through immunization campaigns.
“One of the clearest messages from this
achievement is that with the right strategies
and a strong partnership of committed governments
and organizations, you can rapidly reduce child
deaths in developing countries," said Dr.
Julie Gerberding, Director, United States Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Accelerated measles control activities are contributing
to the development of health infrastructure to
support routine immunization and other health
services through promotion of safe injection practices,
increased ‘cold chain’ capacity for
vaccines storage, and the development of a global
public health laboratory network.
In addition, measles vaccination campaigns are
contributing to the reduction of child deaths
from other causes. They have become a channel
for the delivery of other life-saving interventions,
such as bed nets to protect against malaria, de-worming
medicine and vitamin A supplements. Combining
measles immunization with other health interventions
is a contribution to the achievement of Millennium
Development Goal Number 4: a two-thirds reduction
in child deaths between 1990 and 2015.
“Reducing measles deaths by 60 per cent
in just six years is an incredible achievement,
said UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman.
“Immunizing children is clearly saving lives
and contributing to the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals. We must urgently build on this
momentum with integrated community-based health
programmes to help save the lives of the over
10 million children who die of preventable causes
every year.”
There is still some way to go in the fight against
one of the world’s most contagious diseases.
Of the estimated 345,000 measles deaths in 2005,
90 per cent were among children under the age
of five – many dying as a result of complications
related to severe diarrhoea, pneumonia and encephalitis.
The challenge now is to reach a new global goal:
the reduction of global measles deaths by 90 per
cent by 2010, compared to 2000 levels. This means
that the gains made in countries that have implemented
accelerated measles control strategies must be
sustained, and the similar strategies must be
implemented in countries with high numbers of
measles deaths, such as India and Pakistan.
“How could we deny the gift -- and the right
-- of growing up to millions of children?”
said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the American
Red Cross. “Today, more than 100,000 Red
Cross Movement volunteers are delivering that
gift in Africa alone. Thanks to the great generosity
and dedication of our donors and partners, entire
communities have been reached with lifesaving
health information, saved from the pain of measles
by neighbors who care enough to encourage them
to get vaccinated. We see children in America
willing to share their allowance money with their
unseen neighbors in Africa, neighbors they will
never know. The American Red Cross is proud to
be part of a mission where so many young lives
have been saved … and we look forward to
helping save millions more.”
“The success of the Measles Initiative has
added to the confidence of national governments
and donor partners to undertake public-private
partnerships to make a significant impact on disease
prevention,” said Kathy Bushkin Calvin,
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
of the United Nations Foundation. “Collaboration
at every level including shared decision-making
and therefore shared responsibility among all
partners has strengthened and enhanced each partner’s
contribution while increasing the impact on mortality
reduction.”
Background:
The Measles Initiative, launched in 2001,
supports government’s efforts to tackle
measles deaths. The Measles Initiative is spearheaded
by the American Red Cross, CDC, the United Nations
Foundation, UNICEF and WHO. To date, the Initiative
has mobilized more than US $300 million to provide
technical and financial support to national campaigns.
With increased resources, the Measles Initiative
will support measles campaigns in all regions
of the world in 2007 and 2008.
Other key players in the
fight against measles includes the Global Alliance
for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA), the Japanese Agency for Development Cooperation,
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Becton,
Dickinson and Company, the Izumi Foundation, The
Vodafone Group Foundation, the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints, Exxonmobil and countries
and governments affected by measles.
