The UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock has released US$2.6 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to help fight the devastating measles outbreak in Samoa and support the wider region.
The funds will provide emergency vaccinations, obstetric and neonatal care for mothers and newborns infected with measles, mental health and psychosocial support, clean water and sanitation, and lifesaving public health information for 1.25 million people.
On 15 November, the Government of Samoa declared a state of emergency in response to the growing measles outbreak. As of 8 December, nearly 4,700 cases and 70 fatalities have been reported, overwhelming the health system in a country with a population of about 200,000. Around 200 new cases are reported daily and most of these are children under 5.
UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said:
“The people of Samoa will not fight this outbreak alone. The United Nations has today released $2.6 million of funding that will help 1.25 million people, including with urgent vaccination and treatment. We can and must move swiftly to stop this deadly outbreak in its tracks.”
A global resurgence of measles cases has affected all regions of the world since 2007, including the Pacific. By the end of November 2019, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and American Samoa reported measles outbreaks. Prior to the ongoing outbreaks, measles vaccine coverage varied in Pacific island countries and areas, ranging from 31% in Samoa to 99% in the Cook Islands, Nauru and Niue.
Original source: CERF
Published on 09 December 2019
