The objective was to reduce infant mortality due to measles by half between 1999 and 2005, but partners in the Measles Fight Initiative (American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organization), inform us that this reduction has been overcome, reducing global mortality by 60%.
Undoubtedly, it is good news that translates from 873,000 deaths in 1999 to 345,000 in 2005, being particularly a more pronounced success in Africa, with a reduction of 75%, thanks to the commitment, the resources provided by national governments and to the support of the Measles Initiative.
The strategy carried out to overcome the objective has been the administration of the vaccine to all infants, the second chance of vaccination to all children, the surveillance of the disease and the improvement of health care, in which They include the vitamin A supplements provided. This demonstrates, according to Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the CDC, "that with appropriate strategies and a strong alliance of governments and committed organizations it is possible to quickly reduce infant mortality in developing countries."
The achievements of this campaign have been accompanied by other benefits, such as the provision of mosquito nets that protect against malaria, antiparasitic drugs or supplements of the aforementioned vitamin A.
It is clear that much remains to be done, the 345,000 measles deaths that occurred in 2005 were mostly due to complications such as diarrhea, pneumonia or encephalitis. The next objective of the United Nations is a 90% reduction for 2010, surely there are many more who trust in the future achievement, do you include yourself?
