American Red Cross and its Measles Initiative partners are traveling to Ghana in December to vaccinate nearly eight million children against the highly contagious and deadly disease, completing the last of nine countries in this year’s schedule vaccination campaigns.

Following the Ghana campaign, nearly 72 million vaccinations will have been given to children across Africa, saving an estimated 106,217 lives.

More than 20 Red Cross workers, volunteers and donors from chapters across the U.S. will join the Ghana Red Cross Society from December 9-13, in a campaign to vaccinate all at-risk children under the age of 15 years, preventing 11,466 deaths. Ghana is one of 36 Sub-Saharan African countries included in the Measles Initiative’s 5-year program to vaccinate 200 million children through both mass and follow-up campaigns to reduce measles mortality. With the completion of the Ghana campaign, nearly 72 million vaccinations will have been given across Africa, saving an estimated 106,217 lives.

As a pilot project during the Ghana measles vaccination campaign, insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) that hang over beds for protection against mosquitoes will be distributed to combat malaria.. According to the World Health Organization, malaria is the leading cause of death among children under five in Africa. Every parent that accompanies a child to the vaccination post in Lawra District, one of the poorest districts of Africa, will receive an ITN.

“Insecticide-treated bed nets are the only way demonstrated by clinical trial to be effective in preventing malaria,” says Dr. Mark Grabowsky, senior technical advisor for the American Red Cross.

ITNs showed a 17% decrease in all-cause child mortality for families that participated in a previous clinical trial in Ghana. According to an article in Macroeconomics and Health: Investing in Health for Economic Development, experimental data show that ITNs are more effective as the level of users increases. Not only do fewer bites occur, but because ITNs are treated with insecticide, mosquitoes that come into contact with the chemical are less likely to be infectious.

In an effort to support this ITN collaboration of Ghana Rotary, Rotarians Against Malaria, World Bank, UNICEF, CDC, Ghana Red Cross and the American Red Cross, leadership from Lawra District voted to purchase an additional 1,000 ITNs at a cost of $6,125 for distribution to every family.

Prior to ITN distribution, Ghana Red Cross volunteers will educate families about malaria, the importance of ITNs and their proper use. Volunteers will distribute them during the vaccination campaign and make follow-up visits to homes to insure they are being properly used.

The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) headquartered in Accra is another key player supporting the measles vaccination and ITN distribution campaign. GRCS will mobilize its staff and thousands of volunteers to mobilize mothers and caretakers to bring their children to be immunized.

“Red Cross volunteers involved in the campaign are working in hard-to-reach areas with information and health services where children are at a higher risk of missing the vaccination campaign,” says Marianne Patton, manager of the Measles Initiative for the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross will be on hand as well to provide support to the GRCS. Together they will build GRCS capacities to mobilize and recruit volunteers, strengthen volunteer networks and improve operating systems.

The grassroots social mobilization effort is carried out to raise awareness about measles among Ghana’s population of 17.7 million (estimated in 1997) and to motivate African mothers and caretakers to travel to vaccination posts with their children for free immunizations and ITNs.

“Social mobilization uses Red Cross volunteers to continue the trusted and traditional means of communication among families and community,” says Patton. “The Red Cross emblem is trusted. It brings help, hope and something of value.”

Representatives of the Measles Initiative National Youth Council will also travel to Ghana to explore ways they can help to improve the lives of their peers in Africa. A National Youth Campaign for the Measles Initiative was developed in an effort to empower youth and young adults to make a difference on the global stage.

“Youth and young adults are very interested in other countries and want to help,” says Kelli Hays, chair of the National Youth Council. “I think the Measles Initiative is so tangible and easily understood that it makes sense to get youth involved.”

Youth across the U.S. have shown support for the campaign through advocacy and fundraising for the Measles Initiative. Some activities such as a marathon fundraiser and poster contest have already raised awareness and funds for the campaign. “I hope to use my firsthand experience when I get back to the U.S. to help in fund-raising and in increasing awareness about this life-saving program,” says Hays.

Local American Red Cross chapters are also doing their part as well to raise funds to pay for the $1 measles vaccination cost per child. A representative from the Salt Lake City Chapter of the American Red Cross is traveling many miles to Africa accompanied by a donor to see firsthand how the chapter’s fundraising efforts result in saved lives.

“When we described the Initiative to donors, we were met with enthusiasm,” says Susan Sheehan, CEO of the American Red Cross Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter. “It is our hope that more individuals within our community will be motivated to support this and other Red Cross health initiatives.”

The Ghana campaign and all others like it in Sub-Saharan Africa are part of the Measles Initiative to reduce measles mortality in Africa. American Red Cross leads the fight against measles with UN Foundation, CDC, UNICEF and WHO as well as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and governments and countries affected by measles.

For more information or to make a financial donation, please visit www.measlesinitiative.org.