Measles outbreaks threaten progress in child mortality in West and Central Africa
A shortfall in funding for follow-up measles campaigns of around $59 million worldwide and $16* million for Africa only puts children at risk if efforts are not sustained through an appropriate response from donors and governments. Vaccination efforts, both through campaigns and routine immunization, must be sustained and efficiently implemented. Efforts by African governments with support of partners such as the Measles Initiative — led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization— have resulted in a reduction of 92% of cases during 2000-2008 in the Africa region. "To eliminate the risk of resurgence, countries must continue follow-up vaccination campaigns every two to four years until their healthcare systems can routinely provide two doses of measles vaccination to all children and provide treatment for the disease" said Sambo. "We fail to vaccinate every child. That is why we have a pool of susceptible victims which builds up as a perfect breeding ground for measles outbreaks", says UNICEF Director for West and Central Africa, Dr. Gianfranco Rotigliano. Unreached children are usually to be found among the most vulnerable communities, the poorest and those who lack access to health care especially in peri-urban centers and rural areas and that are only reached through outreach services. "Reaching the unreached is essential, especially in the context of food insecurity and widespread malnutrition. Unhealthy children risk deaths with measles" said Rotigliano. Worrying indications were observed in the region last year. A major outbreak in Burkina Faso resulted in more than 50,000 cases and 340 deaths and localized outbreaks in Benin, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Senegal accounted for 16,808 reported cases and 68 deaths. Already this year, sixteen countries have measles outbreaks in West and Central Africa and among them are countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia. 2010 is a pivotal year to reach the United Nations goal of reducing measles mortality by 90% from 2000 to 2010. If nothing is done to counter the resurgence in measles cases, we risk reversing the progress made so far. "The funding gap must be met so that countries can continue to undertake large-scale campaigns to prevent child deaths and sustain the gains. Reaching the 2010 goal will also require strengthening routine immunization and disease surveillance systems to rapidly detect and control outbreaks" added Dr Sambo. To respond to outbreak, campaigns are ongoing or planned in the affected countries. Follow-up campaigns are planned, funding permitting, in 2010 in: Congo, CAR, Gabon, DRC, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali. "Our work is not over. We need a sustained political and financial commitment to fight this leading killer of children. We cannot drop our guard", added Dr Rotigliano. *funding needs for follow-up campaigns are estimated at more than 100 million worldwide and 39million for the Africa region. About the epidemic About measles Between 2000 and 2008, global measles mortality in all ages was reduced by 78%, from an estimated 733,000 deaths in 2000 to an estimated 164,000 deaths in 2008, according to the Measles Initiative, a partnership funded in 2001 and lead by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. An estimated 400 children die from measles every day (2008). Even healthy and well-nourished children, if unvaccinated, are at risk of the disease and its severe health complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and encephalitis (a dangerous infection of the brain causing inflammation). But in vulnerable populations, especially where malnutrition is widespread, such as the ones from West and Central Africa, the disease becomes deadly. About routine immunization against measles It is recommended to achieve 95% of coverage for each vaccine, including measles, in children under one year of age. For more information, please contact:
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