PHA-Exchange> [afro-nets] UN Agencies Hail Global Reduction In Measles Deaths

[Claudio Schuftan]

UN Agencies Hail 30 Pert Cent Global Reduction In Measles Deaths
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from Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel at undp.org>

New York, Apr 27 2004 12:00PM

United Nations agencies today announced a global reduction of 30
per cent in measles deaths between 1999 and 2002, proving that
by acting collectively to reach the world's poorest children
countries can achieve the UN goal of halving the toll of the
leading vaccine-preventable killer of children by the end of
2005.

At 35 per cent, the reduction was even greater in Africa, the
region with the highest number of people affected by the dis-
ease, thanks in large part to the Africa Measles Partnership
comprising, among others, the UN World Health Organization
(http://www.who.int/en/) (WHO), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF),
national governments, the American Red Cross, the United States
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the UN Founda-
tion.

"This is great news. Countries are to be commended for their ef-
forts to fight measles - efforts that are truly paying off,"
UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said in New York, noting
that since 1999, almost 260,000 deaths per year have been pre-
vented. "But we have to keep up the work and the funding as
still far too many children's lives are lost to measles."

Recent progress is due to the adoption by the most affected
countries of the comprehensive WHO/UNICEF strategy for sustain-
able measles mortality reduction, based on achieving at least 80
per cent routine immunization in every district and ensuring
that all children get a second opportunity either through rou-
tine services or periodic Supplemental Immunization Activities
(SIAs) every three to four years.

Under SIAs every child from nine months to five years of age is
immunized over a one- to two-week period. The estimated annual
cost for measles mortality reduction activities in the 45 so-
called high burden countries is approximately $140 million.

"Countries have proven that routine immunization and supplemen-
tal measles immunization will reduce measles deaths. This is an
extremely important step," WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook
said in a news release in Geneva. "Now WHO encourages all high-
burden countries to implement these strategies, and stands ready
to help."

"However success also requires more resources, and a long-term
commitment of leaders to permanently reducing measles deaths,"
he added.
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