Measles strategy works – Now it must expand to more countries Cape Town Measles Declaration pledges to cut measles deaths by half

By 2005, almost half a million children will be saved every year if there are expanded efforts to immunize and protect all children against measles, international health experts declared today.

At a landmark World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) meeting in Cape Town, leading players in the fight against measles spelled out what it will take to stop 2000 children dying every day from this preventable disease. Together with UNICEF special ambassador Angelique Kidjo, they issued a call for intensified efforts and the resources necessary to ensure all children are protected against measles.

“We can do it – we’ve done it before – in Afghanistan, Angola, in countries devastated by conflict and drought and every other form of disaster,” said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, UNICEF.…