Measles Vaccination Campaign Immunizes More Than 13 Million Children in Kenya, Saving 18,000 Lives in One Week Kenyan Red Cross volunteers use new technology to conduct health survey with Kenyan mothers WASHINGTON, August 14, 2002 —In an effort to combat preventable deaths from measles, the Measles Initiative launched its largest mass vaccination campaign ever in Kenya, June 17-23, 2002. The Kenya campaign, the first of nine country campaigns scheduled this year as part of the Initiative, reached 13,302,991 children (97.9 percent) between the ages of nine months and 14 years with measles vaccinations and vitamin A (given to boost the immune system) in one week. “The impact this campaign will have on Kenyan children is extraordinary,” said Dr. Mark Grabowsky, senior health advisor for the American Red Cross. “After measles vaccination campaigns, the effects are immediate - within a few weeks, children no longer get sick from measles and measles wards in hospitals are empty, opening up beds and resources for the many other health problems children are prone to in Africa.” Actress Jane Seymour, Celebrity Cabinet member for the American Red Cross and mother of six, actively participated in the campaign with eight schoolchildren from Richard Henry Dana Middle School in Hawthorne, California (near Los Angeles). Seymour and the children took part in social mobilization with the Kenyan Red Cross Society to motivate mothers to bring their children to be vaccinated; visited schools and hospitals to talk to children, mothers and Kenyan officials about the importance of vaccination; and took part in a documentary about the Measles Initiative slated to be completed this fall. Seymour said, “In our travels we saw the Measles Initiative at work firsthand. We witnessed schoolchildren singing songs about measles and putting on dramas with a ‘devil’ character that represented measles to teach mothers and fathers about the importance of vaccination - and most importantly, we talked to families about their daily lives and how measles affects them. I actually heard that some mothers won’t name their children until they have had measles because so many children get it and die.” In partnership with SATELLIFE and Acumen Foundation, a health and community survey was conducted by 28 Kenyan Red Cross volunteers at vaccination posts in four Kenyan districts, surveying 2,033 mothers and fathers who brought their children to be vaccinated. SATELLIFE is a non-profit organization that provides community, medical content, communications and training for health care workers in Africa. The survey results will be used to assess the Kenya campaign and help plan future measles initiatives across Africa. Handheld computers were used to gather the information as caretakers exited the vaccination posts. “It is a wonderful item,” says Peter Matolo, a Kenyan Red Cross volunteer who asked survey questions at a vaccination post. “I have never seen one of these before,” he added. “It takes just 2-3 minutes and they are on their way. It is much easier than using a (paper) survey.” Overall key findings include: 47 percent of caretakers surveyed said that they had a child who had measles at one time 18.5 percent of caretakers surveyed said they had a child who had died of measles 54 percent of caretakers surveyed said they had known a child who had died of measles In areas where Red Cross was active in social mobilization (talking with caretakers, going house-to-house to encourage vaccinations), over half of the caretakers said they first heard about the vaccination campaign through a Red Cross volunteer Matolo also said, “I am glad that American Red Cross is helping us learn more about the children and families we are helping - that is a very good thing.” The June Kenya campaign is the first of nine campaigns scheduled for Year Two of the Initiative. In the first year of the Initiative (2001) more than 21 million children were vaccinated, preventing an estimated 47,000 deaths in Tanzania, Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroon, Ghana and Benin. The partners anticipate supporting measles vaccination in nine countries during the second year, vaccinating 44 million children and preventing an additional 51,000 deaths. Year Two countries include Ghana, Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. Four additional countries may also hold campaigns, if funds become available. The Measles Initiative is focused initially in Africa, where there is the highest risk of death from the disease. Measles Initiative partners also work on a wide-range of health initiatives around the world, including measles control and other vaccination services outside of Africa. The Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children and preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization. Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and countries and governments affected by measles. For more information about the Measles Initiative, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org To make a financial contribution, call 1-800 HELP NOW or to make a secure online donation, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org. CONTACTS: Julie Irby, American Red Cross, International Communication (202) 639-3512 office, (571) 236-6172 cell Kaia Lenhart, UN Foundation Program Communication Director David Gittelman, CDC, Public Health Advisor (404) 639-8252 office and Steven Stewart, Communications Specialist (404) 639-8327 office Mohammad Jalloh, UNICEF, Communication Officer (212) 326-7516 office John Fitzsimmons, WHO, Technical Officer (202) 974-3884 Holly Ladd, SATELLIFE, Executive Director (617) 926-9400 © Copyright 2001 The American National Red Cross. All Rights Reserved.        CONTACT US  |  SITE DIRECTORY  |  PRIVACY POLICY