India efforts to combat measles, rubella earn prestigious award

India receives prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award for outstanding efforts in combating infectious diseases.

India has been bestowed with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award in recognition of the country's tireless efforts to combat these infectious diseases, the health ministry said on Friday.

The award was given by the Measles and Rubella Partnership at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington D.C., US on March 6.

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Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Washington D.C., received the award on behalf of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Measles and Rubella Partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF and WHO, all dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness, the health ministry said in a statement.

"This accolade celebrates India's unwavering commitment to public health and its outstanding leadership in curbing the spread of these infectious diseases among children," the ministry said.

It further recognises India for providing regional leadership to the measles and rubella elimination programme by using "measles as a tracer" to strengthen routine immunisation under the country's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).