Nepal has eliminated rubella as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday.
Rubella is commonly known as German measles is a highly contagious viral infection.
Particularly it is very serious for pregnant women as it can infect them to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a range of lifelong and debilitating birth defects. However, rubella is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines.
WHO also hailed the breakthrough as a “remarkable achievement.”
“Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, persistent efforts of the healthcare workers and volunteers, and unstinting support of engaged and informed communities, for a healthy start for babies and a future free of rubella disease,” said Catharina Boehme, Officer-In-Charge of WHO in Southeast Asia.
“Nepal’s achievement of rubella elimination is yet another testament to the success of the national immunization program ahead of the regional target, which has long been one of the strongest pillars of our health care system,” said Minister of Health and Population, Nepal Mr. Pradip Paudel.
“Gavi and WHO’s steadfast support to the programme and the overall health sector in Nepal is deeply valued and acknowledged. I take this moment to thank and congratulate all the leaders, health workers, volunteers and community members who’ve contributed to this achievement. And I call upon all stakeholders to continue their unwavering support so that no child in Nepal has to suffer from a vaccine-preventable disease,” added the Minister.
Nepal is the sixth country in South-East Asia to achieve rubella elimination. Earlier, Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka have eliminated rubella, WHO said.
Nepal introduced rubella vaccines via a 2012 immunization programme. To further strengthen surveillance, Nepal recently introduced a robust laboratory testing algorithm, the first in the WHO South-East Asia Region to do so.
The Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination in South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC) was established in March 2016 to monitor progress towards measles and rubella elimination.
Meanwhile, WHO’s another report added that, this year, 390,723 cholera cases and 4332 deaths have been reported across 31 countries.
One year after the start of the outbreak in Sudan, cholera has reached Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan and Yemen where many people have been affected.
