In Australia, we tend to think of measles as a fairly minor health problem – but the reality is that this potentially deadly disease kills more than 450 people every day.
More than 95 per cent of measles deaths occur in countries with low per capita incomes and weak health infrastructures, where children rarely have access to measles vaccines. Even those who survive the disease are often left with life-long disabilities.
It is incredible to think that the situation remains so dire, considering it costs less than US$1 to vaccinate a child against the measles virus. Click here to donate now.
Make twice the difference:
The good news is that you can make an impact in the fight against this preventable disease – in fact, right now you can make double the impact.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are matching dollar for dollar every donation made to the UNICEF Measles Initiative, up to the sum of $5 million. So if you donate $10, for instance, with you will be responsible for vaccinating 50 children.
In 2012, the Measles Initiative aims to vaccinate 38 million children in 20 countries around the world – but we can’t do it without your help.
The Measles Initiative:
Since the Measles Initiative was launched in 2001, we have vaccinated more than one billion children and saved more than four million lives.
Dorothy Okko and her daughters – who live in the remote Liberian village of Zoeluapa – are among those to have benefited from the program.
Two of Dorothy’s daughters, Doris and Rhoda, became infected with the highly contagious virus in January. Thanks to UNICEF, Dorothy was able to get her other three children – including her baby girl – vaccinated immediately.
“I thank God that three of my children have been vaccinated, even though two of my children are sick. This vaccine is a blessing,” Dorothy said.
Clearly, progress is being made in the fight against measles – but there are still far too many children dying.
There is no need for this to be the case, considering the vaccine that could save their lives costs less than $1.
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