1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,720 Global efforts to expand the use of the measles vaccine over the past five years have resulted 2 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:15,440 in the greatest and most rapid measurable reduction in under 5 mortality in public health 3 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:23,520 history. 4 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:32,320 The numbers tell the story. Between 1999 and 2005, measles mortality was reduced by 60% 5 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:42,240 from an estimated 873,000 deaths to 345,000 deaths. Improved routine immunization together 6 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:52,600 with large-scale campaigns during this period saved the lives of over 2 million children. 7 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:58,280 America achieved the largest total mortality reduction, contributing 72% of the global 8 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:05,140 reduction, an amazing achievement. In another time during a measles epidemic, a village 9 00:01:05,140 --> 00:01:20,720 would bury two to three children every week. That no longer happened. 10 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:26,960 In 2001, UNICEF, the American Red Cross, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 11 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:33,200 and others formed the Measles Initiative. The key to the success of the Measles Initiative 12 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:39,600 is partnership. The original goal was to reduce deaths from measles in 34 target countries 13 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:48,920 in Africa by 50%. That goal has been surpassed, and a new goal has been set, to reduce measles 14 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:58,040 deaths by another 40%. If we can achieve this, by 2010 measles deaths will have been 15 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:10,400 reduced by 90% in just 10 years. 16 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:16,960 Africa's success shows what can be accomplished when resources are made available and community 17 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,400 commitment is strong. 18 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:26,680 Mothers know what measles is. They often, their kids have had measles. And most of them 19 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:32,200 have a neighbor or a friend whose child has died from measles. And this is the case whether 20 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:38,820 it's in the mountains of the Americas or in villages in Africa. And now, after the Measles 21 00:02:38,820 --> 00:02:45,140 Initiative and the vaccination activities, it's amazing to walk in the villages in Africa 22 00:02:45,140 --> 00:02:49,580 and you talk to these mothers and they're not concerned about measles anymore. Their 23 00:02:49,580 --> 00:02:51,620 kids are vaccinated. 24 00:02:51,620 --> 00:02:58,620 The will of the African people to save their children has led to their remarkable success. 25 00:02:58,780 --> 00:03:05,780 As a result, there is one less disease for parents to fear and one more reason for them 26 00:03:05,780 --> 00:03:12,780 to have their hope that their children will survive and thrive into adulthood. 27 00:03:16,140 --> 00:03:23,140 It cost $1 per child to immunize them against measles. It sounds like such an insignificant 28 00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:36,700 amount of money, but the impact is so profound. And it is a way of reaching out to, in many 29 00:03:37,140 --> 00:03:44,140 cases, the most vulnerable children through this noble, important, and necessary work. 30 00:03:46,140 --> 00:03:53,140 Despite the success of the Measles Initiative, the disease still remains the leading cause 31 00:03:59,500 --> 00:04:05,180 of vaccine-preventable deaths among children. And protecting every child from measles must 32 00:04:05,180 --> 00:04:07,780 remain a top priority. 33 00:04:07,780 --> 00:04:13,260 The most important element of this initiative has been the fact that countries have taken 34 00:04:13,300 --> 00:04:20,300 the ownership in terms of planning, executing, and monitoring the activities. And this is 35 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:25,380 key for the sustainability of the initiative because we're not talking, at this point in 36 00:04:25,380 --> 00:04:31,460 time, about eradicating the disease. In other words, there will be need for ongoing activities 37 00:04:31,460 --> 00:04:36,620 for the next several years. And it's important that countries assume their responsibilities 38 00:04:36,620 --> 00:04:40,820 as they are doing now. 39 00:04:40,820 --> 00:04:47,820 The most important thing is we have a proven strategy that we know works. We have had sufficient 40 00:04:48,140 --> 00:04:55,140 resources to implement that strategy in countries. And the results are evidence that, in fact, 41 00:04:57,180 --> 00:05:01,940 the Measles Initiative has been working. 42 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:07,700 Moving forward, increased attention will be given to Asian countries of high risk. Given 43 00:05:08,020 --> 00:05:13,660 Africa's success, we have every reason to believe this goal can be achieved and millions 44 00:05:13,660 --> 00:05:15,380 more young lives saved.