Zambian measles campaign a success

A recent measles immunisation campaign in Zambia, aimed at protecting millions of children from the illness, was a success, according to UNICEF.

In a statement, the United Nations organisation revealed that the week long National Measles Campaign in early July succeeded in immunising more than 2.1 million Zambian children aged between nine months and five-years old.

The campaign was launched in response to rising numbers of sporadic outbreaks of measles in the last two years, with UNICEF stating there were over 100 cases recorded in 2006.

And the Zambian government welcomed the success of the initiative, which was led by UNICEF but also involved church organisations, schools and businesses.

Dr Brian Chituwo, Zambia's minister for health, said: "Measles can be deadly to children, killing more worldwide each year than any other vaccine-preventable disease, but is easily prevented by immunisation."

According to World Health Organization figures, measles killed more than 400,000 children in Africa in the 1990s, but the organisation is now aiming for a 90 per cent reduction in measles mortality on the continent by 2009 compared to 2000 levels.

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