Iran and Turkey have launched the largest and most ambitious measles campaigns in the world, aiming to reach 53 million people over the next year, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said Tuesday.
A highly contagious viral infection, measles kills more children than any other vaccine-preventable disease, particularly those in developing countries who do not have access to adequate health care services. Those that survive can have permanent disabilities, including brain damage, blindness and deafness.
The Iranian campaign targets 33 million people between 5 and 25 years of age, all of whom it hopes will be immunized before the new year, while Turkey plans to reach 20 million children aged 9 months to 15 years over the next 12 months.
– There is absolutely no reason that children should die or be disabled from measles or rubella (røde hunde) when we have simple, effective and inexpensive vaccines, UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy said in a statement. – The Governments of Iran and Turkey have shown commendable leadership in their efforts to eliminate these deadly diseases.
In Iran, the Ministry of Health is leading the campaign, in close collaboration with other ministries and with the support of UNICEF, the UN World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Turkish campaign will start this month with 10 million school children, expanding to 10 million more infants and out-of-school children next year.
The campaigns in both countries are being financed and implemented by their governments, and will enlist support from the media, health professionals, schools, local communities and parents.
