India receives ‘Measles and Rubella Champion’ Global Award for its Exemplary Efforts in combating these Diseases

India has been bestowed with the prestigious measles and rubella champion award for its exemplary efforts in combating these diseases. The award was received by the ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington on March 6th. The Health Ministry in a statement said, this accolade celebrates the country’s unwavering commitment to public health and its outstanding leadership in curbing the spread of these infectious diseases among children. It said, despite facing numerous challenges, India has demonstrated remarkable progress in reducing measles and rubella cases and preventing outbreaks through a series of comprehensive interventions.

The Ministry further said, the award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of country’s frontline health workers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and communities across the nation. It said, these efforts have resulted in 50 districts consistently not witnessing any measles case while 226 districts have not reported rubella cases over the past 12 months.

The measles and rubella partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), UNICEF and World Health Organisation. All of these organisations are dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness.