Lions Clubs International

Lions Join with Gates to Prevent Measles

Meeting the Challenge April 2012

Measles Article in the Lion Jan 2012

Lions are partnering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to

protect 41 million African children from measles. The Lions-Measles Initiative intends to vaccinate at least 95 percent of children aged 9 months to 47 months old in Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mali and Nigeria.

LCIF and the Gates Foundation are jointly funding the $750,000 programme. Vaccinations began in October. Lions in Africa are publicizing the measles campaign, mobilizing people for vaccinations and working closely with government health officials.

Measles is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in children. It also can cause blindness. UNICEF estimates 1.7 million children could die from the disease in the next three years if vaccination efforts subside.

The Lions’ effort is part of the Measles Initiative, which has led to more than 700 million children being vaccinated since 2001. The Measles Initiative is supported by UNICEF, WHO, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, American Red Cross and the United Nations Foundation.

Caption for the picture:
A child in Madagascar is vaccinated against measles thanks to the Lions-Measles Initiative.

 Lions Measles Video