Kigali, 2 September 2009 -- "The remarkable reduction of measles deaths by an estimated 89% between 2000 and 2007 in the African Region" gives reason to hope that the disease can be eliminated in the WHO African Region by the target year of 2020.

This assessment is contained in a report to be presented Tuesday by the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, to the 59TH session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.

Dr Sambo attributes the progress made in the measles mortality reduction goal for 2009 mainly to the commitment of Member States to implement the strategies, including improving routine immunisation coverage and conducting high quality Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs). Between 2001 and 2008, 43 Member States conducted measles SIAs.

He indicates in the report that during the 103 SIAs conducted over the period, 396 million children were vaccinated. Seventy of the SIAs achieved administrative coverage of 95% or more. Regarding improvements in routine immunisation, 11 countries achieved measles vaccination coverage of 90% or more in 2008. However, only Seychelles had 100% of districts with a coverage level of 90%.

Dr Sambo, however, adds that inspite of the impressive successes recorded, several challenges need to be addressed in order to sustain the gains achieved in measles mortality reduction, and to prepare for the ultimate goal of measles elimination. These include continued large-scale measles outbreaks and high measles incidence in some countries, and inadequate access to routine immunization services. The quality of disease surveillance, the quality of immunization coverage monitoring data, national commitment and leadership, as well as resource mobilization need to be strengthened to attain the targets.

The Regional Director outlines actions countries could take towards the elimination of measles.

These include: scaling up the implementation of proven approaches and strategies such as the Reaching-Every-District (RED) approach; sustain high immunization coverage levels through routine services and SIAs; strengthen surveillance performance and improving the quality of immunization monitoring data; promoting national ownership and community participation towards measles elimination by ensuring that measles elimination is included as a key item in the national health agenda and adopting 2020 as the adopt a measles elimination in the Region.

For more information, please contact :

Technical contact
Dr Masresha Balcha
Email: masreshab [at] afro.who.int 
Tel.: +47 241 39314

Media contact
Samuel Ajibola
Email: ajibolas [at] afro.who.int 
Tel.: +47 241 39378