The Measles Initiative American Red Cross IFRC World Youth Meeting 2009

The Measles Initiative

American Red CrossIFRC World Youth Meeting

2009

International Services Mission

The American Red Cross International Services helps vulnerable people and communities around the world prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters, humanitarian crises and health emergencies through mobilizing the power of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

What is Measles?

• Acute, viral disease that can lead to death

• Transmitted through the air from person-to-person

• Highly contagious

Measles: A Child Killer• Prior to the Measles Initiative, almost 1

million children died each year• It costs less than $1 to vaccinate a child

What is the Measles Initiative?• A partnership committed to reducing

measles deaths -- led by the American Red Cross, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UN Foundation, UNICEF and World Health Organization;

• Provides technical and financial assistance to governments to carry-out mass vaccination campaigns;

• Goal: to reduce measles deaths by 90% by 2010 (compared to 2000).

No second opportunity for measles immunization (47)

94 % of all measles deaths

Role of the American Red Cross

• Partner coordination• Technical support to

in-country partners• Communication and

advocacy• Resource mobilization

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the

American Red Cross, in Madagascar (October 2007)

Supporting National Societies

The American Red Crosssupports National Red Crossand Red Crescent Societies

by:1) Providing technical

assistance; 2) Training local volunteers

and health workers; and3) Providing financial

support.

An American Red Cross technical advisor inspectssupplies during an integrated health campaign

Social Mobilization in Africa and Asia

Bringing the message to communities

Mass Vaccination Campaigns

VitaminA

PolioVaccinatio

n

Deworming

Tablets

Integrated Campaigns

Mosquito

Nets>186 million >95 million >81 million >37 million

Nationwide second measles opportunity introduced (46)

No second opportunity introduced (1)

Accomplishments

Since 2001, theMeasles Initiativehas:1. Supported campaigns

in more than 60 countries, vaccinating more than 600 million children;

2. Improved surveillance and strengthened health systems

A Red Cross volunteer marks a baby’s finger

in Madagascar

Estimated Measles Deaths 2000-2007

-

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

mea

sles

dea

ths

Estimated Measles Deaths, 2007

= 1000 death

67%

Current Challenges

• 540 children die every day from measles

• In 2007, more than 23 million one-year-old children did not receive a measles vaccine through national health systems

• 40 States with active chapters• 121 Chapters raised funds between

July 2007 and June 2008• Chapters hold events that raise

anywhere from $100 to $11,000

American Red Cross Chapter Participation

Band Together and “Come Bat” Measles

Highlights from 2008:

Mat MorganAngela Bingham

• Help raise awareness within your network of friends, family and coworkers• Organize activities and events to raise funds

The Red Cross has tools to help you jump start activities and be successful in your outreach efforts.

Examples: One-on-one support, brochures, fact sheets, photos, videos and networking opportunities

How You Can Get Involved

Youth Activity IdeasIn schools…• Sell lapel pins or postcards• Host a used book sale• Make a presentation to your

classmates• Sell paper dolls for $1 and hang on the

wall• Hand out flyers at schools, dances, games

For more information

Contact: measles@usa.redcross.org

Visit:

www.measlesinitiative.org

Thank you!