Rubella – commonly known as German measles – is a very contagious viral infection and especially severe for pregnant women, as it can lead to spontaneous aborte, stillbirth or a variety of debilitating birth defects. Safe and cost -effective vaccines have made it very preventable.
“Nepal’s success reflects the unshakable commitment to its leadershipPersistent efforts from health workers and volunteers and unstable support from dedicated and informed communities, for a healthy start for babies and a future free of red dog’s disease, ”said Catharina Boehme, officers in WHO in Southeast Asia.
National Immunization Push
Nepal introduced Rubella vaccines via an immunization program in 2012, beginning with a nationwide campaign that targeted children aged nine months to 15 years, with another dose of the routine plan in 2016.
Despite major emergencies in public health such as the Covid-19 pandemic and devastating earthquakes in 2015 and 2023, Nepal achieved over 95 percent coverage of at least one dose of red dog vaccine at the beginning of 2024.
This Monday, there was Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella -Eelimising gave the official announcement: “This achievement in public health is the result of close cooperation between government, dedicated health workers, partners and communities“Said Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, as representative of Nepal.
Innovative approach
Strategies such as promotion of “immunization month”, outreach to unvaccinated c
HILDREN, and the efforts to have districts declared fully immunized gave fresh momentum for the elimination effort.
In addition, Nepal for further Rubella surveillance recently introduced a robust laboratory test algorithm, the first country of WHO’s Southeast Asia region that did.
