Measles campaign success

Angola's National Measles Campaign looks set to reach record numbers of children, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a statement on Friday. In excess of five million children were vaccinated during the first two phases. Currently, UNICEF and partners are reaching the most inaccessible rural areas in the campaign's third and final phase against the country's biggest vaccine-preventable killer of children. "Measles campaigns have been launched before in Africa, but all utilised some basic infrastructure and existing medical personnel," said UNICEF Representative Mario Ferrari. "Angola's National Measles campaign is complicated by post-war difficulties of poor access and damaged transportation routes. "And yet this campaign has been an outstanding success," continued Ferrari. "Thanks to efforts from all sectors of Angolan society – from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Defence, the church, traditional leaders, media, NGOs and the UN Family here in Angola, this campaign has shown what can be done for the children of Angola when all energies are maximised." The National Measles Campaign's target is to reach 7.6 million children - every Angolan boy and girl between the ages of nine months and 15 years. Current data suggests that when the campaign is complete, the biggest health initiative in Angola's history will have reached its ambitious target, UNICEF stated. Around 10,000 Angolan children die each year from measles, with 95 percent of cases occurring in children below 15 years of age. "This translates to 30 children dying every day from a disease that can be readily prevented," said Ferrari.