New Delhi
India has been honored with the esteemed ‘Measles and Rubella Champion’ award for its commendable endeavors in thwarting the spread of the highly contagious and infectious diseases. Deputy Ambassador to the US, Sripriya Ranganathan, accepted the award on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington DC, US.
The Measles and Rubella Partnership, comprising a multi-agency planning committee including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and WHO, aims to reduce global measles deaths and prevent rubella illness. India’s unwavering commitment to public health and leadership in curbing the diseases among children were acknowledged by the partnership.
India’s dedication to using ‘measles as a tracer’ to reinforce routine immunization under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) has been instrumental in regional measles and rubella elimination efforts. Despite facing numerous challenges, India has made remarkable strides in reducing measles and rubella cases and preventing outbreaks through comprehensive interventions. Measles, a highly contagious viral illness, and rubella, a contagious disease caused by a virus, are preventable through vaccines. The MR Vaccine has been integrated into India’s Universal Immunization Programme since 2017. The health ministry commended frontline health workers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and communities for their unwavering dedication and hard work, resulting in districts consistently witnessing no measles or rubella cases over the past year.
