On March 6, 2024, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) of India was honored with the “Measles and Rubella Champion” Award by the Measles and Rubella Partnership (M&RP). This prestigious recognition was presented at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington D.C., USA, with Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan accepting the award on behalf of MoHFW.
Key Achievements:
- Innovative Strategies: India has implemented innovative strategies to combat measles and rubella, including using measles as a tracer to bolster routine immunization programs.
- Proactive Vaccination Campaigns: The country’s aggressive Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccination initiatives in high-risk areas have played a critical role.
- Robust Surveillance and Awareness: Effective surveillance systems and public awareness campaigns have significantly contributed to the prevention efforts.
- Impactful Results: Notably, 50 districts in India have reported no measles cases, and 226 districts have not reported any rubella cases in the past 12 months.
- Measles and Rubella Partnership:
- Global Initiative: M&RP is a worldwide effort aimed at reducing mortality rates from measles and rubella.
- Leading Organizations: The partnership is led by prominent organizations including the American Red Cross, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UN Foundation, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
- This award underscores India’s commitment to the elimination of measles and rubella as part of its Universal Immunization Programme, which has been active since 2017. Through strategic vaccination campaigns and continuous monitoring, India is making significant strides toward eradicating these vaccine-preventable diseases.
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