Working to eradicate Measles and Rubella
Eight million children were vaccinated against measles and rubella during the week between the 12th and 18th September 2011, representing a vital step towards the eradication of the dangerous diseases. The nationwide campaign has aimed to protect all children aged 1 to 14 years against these highly contagious diseases, while strengthening their immunity levels. Vaccination points have been opened in primary health facilities, schools, preschools and orphanages.
The vaccination campaign, led by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and supported by UNICEF, WHO, Centres for Disease Control and the UN foundations, intends to bring Uzbekistan one step closer to eliminating Measles and Rubella by 2015. The 95% reduction of the nation’s 1990 Measles mortality rates by 2015, a deadline set for countries in WHO’s European Region, represents one of UNICEF’s global priorities related to child survival, growth and development.
A Joint Effort
It is undeniable that the previous MR vaccination campaign, which was conducted from 2006 to 2007, successfully eliminated measles from the country for almost three years. However immunity gaps have emerged, despite these best efforts, and new cases were recording during 2010 and in the first half of 2011. Statistics have shown children from 1 to 14 to be most susceptible to infection.
The recently completed campaign represented two and a half months of dedicated work. The planning process involved the training and mobilisation of tens of thousands of staff, including 9,000 vaccinators and doctors, 15,000 nurses, and innumerable teachers, community leaders and social activists.
UNICEF provided technical assistance regarding the procurement of MR vaccines and injection safety equipment, while conducting communication and social mobilisation activities. Meanwhile WHO provided support to the Ministry of Health regarding campaign planning, while training specialists in regards to safe vaccination techniques. Both agencies also supported monitoring and post-campaign evaluation processes.
Following negotiations by the Uzbekistan Government, a significant bulk of MR vaccines have been donated by the Serum Institute of India. Given Uzbekistan’s literacy rate of over 99%, 2.5 million copies of communication materials including fliers, job aids, posters and banners, have been produced in order to encourage social mobilisation across the country. An educational flier for school-age children, along with job aid for teachers, has been produced in order to support outreach at schools.
“Immunisation is a key element of public health strategies to improve child health,” stressed UNICEF Representative Jean-Michel Delmotte while speaking at the launch of the MR campaign in Tashkent. “Measles vaccinations resulted in a 78% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2008 worldwide. UNICEF remains committed to working with the Ministry of Health and other national and international partners, in order to protect Uzbekistan’s children not only from measles but from other newly emerging diseases.” The Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Sanitary Inspector Dr. Saidmurod Saidaliev, along with WHO Representative Dr. Michel Tailhades, also attended the ceremony.
The National Immunisation Programme Review, conducted by the Ministry of Health in April 2010 with technical assistance from UNICEF and its global partners, identified areas for strengthening the country’s routine coverage. Following UNICEF and WHO’s advocacy efforts and based on the reviews’ recommendations, the Government of Uzbekistan allocated funds from the State budget in order to procure vaccines required for the full immunisation of children within the 0 to 23 months age group.
Innovative approaches
The trainings of medical workers regarding safe vaccination and inter-personal communication were an essential part of the campaign’s preparations. This training allowed doctors and nurses to effectively engage the parents of children, while responding to their queries in a more informed and confident manner. This work helped parents put trust in MR vaccine safety, while simultaneously increasing demand for immunisation.
In order to boost social mobilisation in the high risk areas of the Ferghana, Tashkent, Samarkand and Surkhandarya provinces, an ‘edutainment’ approach has been used. This approach has involved twelve performances of a street play, staged by a professional theatre group with the support of the Ministry of Health and UNICEF. Entitled ‘The Right Choice’, the play focused on the campaign’s key messages while building confidence in the vaccine’s safety. The plays were performed in the style of traditional Uzbek Street-theatre; intense 15-minute displays performed in parks and public spaces. Each performance was followed by a community dialogue that addressed the MR campaign and routine immunisation. The use of these plays have been considered an ideal way of engaging communities, while creating demand for equitable services and protection for each and every child in Uzbekistan.