India Helps Maldives Tackle Measles | 24 Jan 2020

India has helped the Maldives in tackling measles outbreak by providing over 30,000 doses of Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccine.

The outbreak comes less than three years after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Maldives measles-free in 2017.
The Maldives presented a certificate of appreciation to the Government of India for the “gesture of goodwill and solidarity”.

It is an important step towards strengthening India-Maldives relations.
Both the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Health cooperation in June 2019.
- The MoU draws a roadmap for cooperation in capacity building and training of doctors and medical professionals, disease surveillance, training of mental health professionals, setting up of digital health capacities in the Maldives.
India is also helping the Maldives in building a 100-bed Cancer Hospital in Hulhumale as part of its $800 million Line of Credit.
Both India and the Maldives are the members of the WHO’s Regional Committee for South-East Asia.

Measles

It is a highly contagious viral disease and is a cause of death among young children globally.
It can cause serious complications, including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia.

Rubella

It is also called German Measles.
Rubella is a contagious, generally mild viral infection that occurs most often in children and young adults.
Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). CRS causes irreversible birth defects.

Measles and Rubella Vaccine

Measles and Rubella are caused by different viruses but share more or less the same symptoms, including the red rashes.
The Measles & Rubella Initiative, a global program, aims at eliminating both these diseases.
The vaccine for the diseases are provided in the form of Measles-Rubella (MR), Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), or Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella (MMRV) combination.