Members of the Verification Commission, Chairpersons and representatives of National Verification Committees, Representatives from Ministries of Health, WHO colleagues and representatives of partner agencies,
A very good evening to you all.
First, let me commend you for your willingness to adapt and hold this meeting online. It is testament to your commitment to the task at hand.
The work of all national verification committees in the Region to gather evidence and submit their reports on time, despite COVID-related challenges, is to be commended.
The delivery and review of these reports is essential to achieving the Region’s Flagship Priority on eliminating measles and rubella by 2023, which as you know was updated last year to reflect the Region’s progress.
I thank Commission members for rapidly reviewing the reports, and for developing and finalizing the Regional Framework for achieving our goal, which very clearly delineates the evidence and criteria required for verification.
Our progress has indeed been strong, which your deliberations will highlight.
Five countries have eliminated measles. Six have controlled rubella.
Children in all countries of the Region have access to two doses of measles-containing vaccine and at least one dose of rubella-containing vaccine.
First-dose coverage of measles-containing vaccine is now 88%. Second-dose coverage is 76%.
Since 2017, almost 500 million additional children have been vaccinated with measles and rubella-containing vaccine.
Surveillance for measles and rubella is much improved.
We can be proud of our gains and the life-changing impact national immunization programmes have had, especially for the most vulnerable.
We must maintain momentum.
Though COVID-19 is indeed an immense threat to our progress, I am inspired by Member States’ determination and resolve.
In a global survey, more than half of all countries reported moderate-to-severe disruptions, or a total suspension of vaccination services, in March and April.
Preliminary information from our Region suggests that the picture here is similar, both in terms of immunization coverage and surveillance. However, I continue to be impressed by Member State efforts to close the gaps.
Though mass vaccination activities have been postponed in several countries, I am pleased that efforts are underway to resume them at the soonest.
I understand Nepal has already re-started a mass vaccination activity with adequate infection prevention measures, and congratulate it on its efforts.
As WHO and its Member States and partners continue to respond to the pandemic, my message remains steadfast: We cannot allow for our progress towards measles and rubella elimination to be put on hold or reversed. We must achieve our 2023 target.
WHO is committed to supporting our Member States and partners to fully revive immunization and surveillance activities, and to refine the strategic, operational and policy guidelines that will facilitate progress towards our goal.
We are committed to supporting the valuable work of this Commission, and to ensuring that it can continue to carry out its duties.
Now more than ever, we must pull together to realize our vision of a Region in which no child suffers or dies from a disease as easily prevented as measles; where no pregnant woman loses her unborn baby due to a virus as avoidable as rubella; and where no neonate is born with a heart ailment or loss of hearing owing to a tragedy as needless as in-utero rubella infection.
I once again thank you for not only guiding the Region’s verification process, but for also reviewing and providing feedback on the reports of the national verification committees.
I wish you all success in this crucial meeting – the first under the updated target and the framework to achieve it.
I look very much forward to being apprised of the outcomes.
Thank you.