Measles: EU Provides €450,000 in Humanitarian Response to Measles Outbreaks in Somalia – African Business

The European Union is committing an additional €450,000 of humanitarian funding to support the fight against life-threatening measles outbreaks in Somalia. This funding will be used to support the EU-funded CAAFIMAD consortium headed by Action Against Hunger, which is contributing to the decrease in measles deaths and morbidity. CAAFIMAD partners will use a combination of district-wide vaccinations for children under 15 years, medical management of complex cases, vitamin A supplementation for children under 5 years, and screening for malnutrition, followed by appropriate management. This intervention is a continuation of efforts made this year to support measles vaccination in Somalia. It is being coordinated by the Ministry of Health and other humanitarian partners.

Current vaccination coverage for displaced children below 15 years old is very low. This is because displaced families come from difficult-to-reach areas that have received limited or no humanitarian assistance, including basic healthcare services.

This intervention will intensify outbreak control efforts within the most affected areas of Galkacyo South in south-central Somalia.

“Today, hundreds of thousands of Somalis, most critically women and children, face famine. Without this expanded measles vaccine and treatment effort, thousands will die from preventable causes. Severely malnourished children are nine times more likely to die of measles and other preventable diseases – –immediate availability of treatment is therefore of highest importance,” said Javier Rio Navarro, Head of the EU Humanitarian Aid Office in Somalia.

ECHO’s partner, the World Health Organisation, will also support this effort by providing the necessary material to reinforce lab and surveillance capacities. UNICEF continues to support measles vaccination in Somalia and other critical vaccination campaigns through the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI).

Distributed by APO Group, EU Delegation to Somalia.