Ethiopia mobilizes to control measles outbreaks across key regions

ETHIOPIA — The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with crucial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, has conducted a significant vaccination campaign to control a measles outbreak across four regions affected by the virus: Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, and South Ethiopia.

The campaign, funded by the Measles and Rubella Initiative (M&RI)—a coalition comprising WHO, UNICEF, the US CDC, the UN Foundation, and the American Red Cross—aims to contain outbreaks quickly by ensuring rapid access to vaccines, supplies, and operational support.

From July 28 to August 4, 2024, this emergency vaccination drive reached 44 targeted “woredas” (districts) prioritized based on the severity of the outbreaks.

Over 1.7 million children aged six months to ten years received the measles vaccine, enhancing immunity among vulnerable populations and helping curb the disease’s ongoing spread.

In regions affected by conflict, such as parts of the Amhara Region, security concerns caused delays, requiring alternative measures like air transport to deliver essential vaccines and supplies.

Despite these challenges, health authorities and partners succeeded in launching the campaign, emphasizing the urgency of stopping further outbreaks.

In a statement regarding the campaign, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, Dr. Owen Kaluwa, emphasized that measles remains a major threat to children’s health and survival, despite being preventable with vaccination.

According to Dr. Kaluwa, this large-scale vaccination effort is vital for improving population immunity, essential to stopping the spread of measles nationwide.

The impact of the vaccination campaign is already evident.

 According to data collected by EPHI, weekly cases dropped from approximately 200 to nearly zero across affected areas.

Rapid Convenience Monitoring (RCM), conducted through household surveys and checks, confirmed that around 96% of children in these districts were vaccinated, marking a successful outreach during the supplementary immunization activity (SIA). 

Social mobilization played a vital role in raising awareness about the campaign. Communities received information through discussions, banners, and mobile announcements.

In rural areas, additional resources such as megaphones and dry cells helped local teams effectively spread the word, further ensuring that families were informed about the campaign and encouraged to vaccinate their children.

Throughout the initiative, WHO provided technical expertise at both the national and local levels to support campaign planning, staff training, implementation, and ongoing evaluation.

This collaboration was key to managing data collection, ensuring quality control, and coordinating all aspects of the immunization effort.

In addition to measles vaccination, the campaign integrated routine immunizations for children under two who had missed their regular vaccinations.

This comprehensive approach aimed not only to address the immediate measles threat but also to strengthen Ethiopian communities’ overall health and resilience in the long term.

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