vaccination: WHO

New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) Even though measles death is falling by 60 per cent worldwide and 27 per cent in South East Asia since 1999, a concerted measles immunisation campaign was needed in countries like India and Pakistan to achieve a 90 per cent reduction in the disease by 2010, according to the partners in the Measles Initiative.

The contagious disease has claimed lives of an estimated 1,74,000 children in the South East Asia during 2005 who often died due to complications related to severe diarrhoea, pneumonia and encephalitis. Many of those who have survived are left with lifelong disabilities and impairments such as blindness, deafness and brain damage. The lives of these children could be saved only with two doses of a safe, effective and inexpensive measles vaccine.

The global reduction of measles death by 60 per cent, exceeding the United Nations' goal to halve measles deaths between 2000 and 2005, was largely due to an unprecedented decline of 75 per cent in measles deaths in the African region, announced 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 Organisation (WHO).

According to new data from WHO, global measles deaths fell from an estimated 873 000 in 1999 to 345 000 mortalities during 2005 due to a four pronged strategy of providing one dose of vaccine to all children below the age of one; a second opportunity for measles vaccination; effective surveillance and enhanced care, including the intake of supplemental Vitamin A.

''WHO is proud to have contributed to this historic achievement. We have helped protect millions of children in our Region from measles. The countries of the Region are demonstrating outstanding commitment towards the achievement of the regional and global goal to reduce measles deaths," says Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO's Regional Director for South-East Asia.

Building on this success, a new global goal has been set to reduce measles deaths by 90 per cent by 2010 compared to 2000 figures. The challenge now is to sustain the gains made in countries that have conducted nationwide measles immunisation campaigns and to take their momentum to countries with high numbers of measles cases such as India and Pakistan.

Attaining measles reduction in India is a priority. India has till date strengthened measles surveillance in three states and has plans to do the same in 10 states by the yearend. The Government aims at providing children with a second opportunity for measles vaccination based on the disease burden. With considerable experience in organising immunisation campaigns for the eradication of polio and the control of Japanese Encephalitis, India is expected to register rapid progress in preventing measles deaths with this measure.

More UNI