The City of Portland Declares July as Measles and Malaria Awareness Month
  

The G8 Summit convened today, bringing together world leaders to address poverty and health issues facing millions of men, women and children in Africa. In Portland, City Council and the Red Cross are encouraging residents to pitch in to support a city-wide effort to raise funds to inoculate children in Mozambique.

“Every day, 1,200 children die from measles in Africa,” said Saltzman. “It’s the single leading cause of vaccine-preventable death among children in Africa – more than AIDS, more than tuberculosis, and more than malnutrition.”

The initiative is orchestrated by the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter and spearheaded by Phil Busse, managing editor for the Portland Mercury.

“The plight of African nations is making headline this week,” said Busse. “The Measles Initiative provides an opportunity for Portland to be a part of a solution for African nations.”

The American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter is collecting donations for the established Measles Initiative – a highly effective and established partnership with the American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and World Health Organization. All of the money donated in Portland will go to the Measles Initiative.

Established in 2001, the Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children and preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. More than 30 African countries are benefiting from the Measles Initiative, with 13 nations participating in the campaign in 2005.

“We were both humbled and inspired by the outpouring of donations for disaster relief,” said Mary Loftin, executive director for the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. “In a mere six weeks, $1 billion was donated to the International Red Cross, with $2 million coming from the Portland area.

Loftin added, “When businesses would present their checks and school children would deliver jars full of spare change, many of them asked us, ‘What else can we do to help?’ That is when we knew it was time for Portland to get behind the Measles Initiative.”

Children in Mozambique are being vaccinated this summer, and this is the country the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter has ed to support. Just $1.00 provides a measles vaccination. For $7.00, vaccinations can be provided for measles and malaria; a malaria prevention net; and vitamin A and de-worming medicine.

Make a Donation to the Measles Initiative

About the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Local Red Cross volunteers respond to residential fires and other disasters every 32 hours on average. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from Oregonians. Financial gifts help provide shelter, food, clothing, counseling and other immediate assistance to those in need. Call (503) 284-1234 or visit www.redcross-pdx.org.