Challenges

The uphill battle has been won, now we begin to roll over the top of the mountain and cascade down the other side. The number of lives lost already is incomprehensible, and even more incredible is the number of lives that can be saved in the next 5-10 years. Join us in this history-making effort.

According to www.measlesinitiative.org:

Measles is the leading vaccine-preventable childhood killer in the world

• Each year, 44 million children suffer from measles and one million die from the disease
• In Africa alone, 200 million children are at risk from measles
• More than 12 million cases occur and 450,000 children die from measles in Africa - more than HIV, more than tuberculosis, and more than malnutrition.

and:

Annually, Africa has an estimated 12 million cases and 450,000 measles deaths. Half of the children born in Africa will get measles this year and four out of every 100 cases will die from it. "Measles is one more assault on kids in Africa," said Dr. Mark Grabowsky, technical advisor on measles for American Red Cross. "But, it is easily prevented."

While the Measles Initiative delivers the measles vaccines, they ALSO give Vitamin A which helps the immune system and in some cases mebendazole which fights intestinal worms. The more interventions included in mass distribution the less distribution for each costs (more interventions to spread the cost).

New Vaccines

Positive Momentum Accelerates Gains: Each year new vaccines can plug into the distribution system, into The Rotary Model.

• Rotaviruses kill close to a million children every year. Rotavirus vaccines are due out of Phase III tests by the end of 2004, possibly impacting the 3 M death toll from diarrheal diseases.
• Rubella vaccines exist. Vaccines for various subtypes of developing countries are under development.
• Pneumonia (Pneumococcus) vaccines exist. Vaccines for various subtypes of developing countries are under development.

Child survival began with Rotary addressing Polio throughout the world. They created a model for mass immunization that the Red Cross continued with the Measles Initiative. Already millions of children have been spared from Polio and Measles.