Kathmandu, August 18
Nepal has been successful to eliminate rubella. Issuing a press release, World Health Organisation, Nepal, on Monday, made this announcement.
The organisation announced that Nepal made a remarkable achievement for a country making concerted efforts to protect its people from vaccine preventable disease. Rubella, or German measles, is a highly contagious viral infection. It is particularly serious for pregnant women as infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a range of lifelong and debilitating birth defects. But rubella is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines.
“Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, persistent efforts of the health care 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 Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-In-Charge WHO South-East Asia, while endorsing the recommendation of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination in South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC) for Nepal to be verified for eliminating rubella.
Nepal is the sixth country in South-East Asia to achieve rubella elimination. Nepal had introduced rubella-containing vaccine in its immunization programme in 2012 with a nationwide campaign for age group 9 months to 15 years.
By 2024, Nepal achieved over 95 per cent coverage for at least one dose of rubella vaccine. Nepal had set a target of eliminating measles and rubella by 2026.
