United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has donated Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccines and consumables to Maldives to assist the Ministry of Health's campaign against measles.
At a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, Minister Abdulla Ameen thanked UNICEF for the prompt assistance for the Supplementary Immunisation Programme. He further appreciated the technical assistance provided by UNICEF.
Following recent cases of measles in Maldives, all individuals at risk of measles infection have been identified and vaccinated while every child between the ages of 6 months to 18 months will be immunised with an additional dose of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The ministry is also carrying awareness sessions in collaboration with other stakeholders alongside launching a national MMR vaccination programme to vaccinate all Maldivians and foreigners living in the country.
Although the World Health Organisation declared the elimination of measles from Maldives in June 2017, positive cases for measles were rediscovered in January and the ministry has been taking the necessary measures to control the outbreak.