UNICEF has donated 200,000 MR vaccines to the Ministry of Health's campaign against measles.

Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen accepted the donation on behalf of the Maldivian government and people at a special ceremony held on Thursday. In turn, the ministry presented UNICEF with a certificate of appreciation.

Speaking to the press following the ceremony, Ameen expressed his appreciation to UNICEF for their prompt assistance in procuring 200,00 MR vaccines and consumables for the ministry's upcoming Supplementary Immunization Programme.

Ameen further stated that the vaccination campaign is scheduled for three months, adding that the ministry will strive to achieve their vaccine coverage targets within the three-month period.

During the campaign, individuals at-risk of measles infection will be identified, awareness sessions will be conducted and every child under the age of 18 will be vaccinated across the country, said the minister.

Additionally, the minister revealed that a communication campaign on the importance of vaccinating children at six and 18 months of age is set to launch this month, alongside a vaccine drive targeting the entire population of the country, including migrant workers.

UNICEF country representative to the Maldives, Mohamed Munir A. Safieldin also spoke at the ceremony and commended the health ministry's fast response to the measles outbreak. He further reiterated UNICEF's commitment to assisting in efforts to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Health Protection Agency's (HPA) statistics show that the last positive measles case was on January 28th. As such, the health ministry revealed that the vaccine database has been completed.