Lions roar for Measles campaign

The Lions of Telangana pledged their support to government’s campaign for ‘Measles Rubella Vaccination Drive’. Malla Reddy, MP, launched the Campaign by releasing a mammoth balloon into the sky in the city in a function held at St Peters Public Schools, Bowenpally, on Thursday.

Around 2,000 students of the St Peters were vaccinated on the occasion. Reddy appreciated the efforts of the Lions in extending support to the government’s initiative on the Measles Rubella Vaccination Drive and Campaign. He urged them to extend their support to rural areas.

Addressing the gathering R Sunil Kumar said, “About 400 people still die every day across the world because of measles, most of them are children. Measles can cause several complications, including brain damage, hearing loss and blindness.

LCIF and Lions have promised to raise US $ 30 million by 2017 in support of measles vaccination around the world. When we reach that goal, GAVI’s (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) matching fund will provide an additional, US $ 30 million, he said. The safe and effective measles vaccine costs about US $ 1 and it can save one life.”

Measles Rubella Campaign is launched all over India in partnership with WHO and UNICEF as well, in addition to the Ministry of Health and Family welfare and other authorities. In Telangana, the MR campaign will continue till the September 25, with a target of reaching 90 lakh children aged between nine months and 15 years.

The campaign is launched through the seven Lion’s districts and 450 Clubs of Lions Clubs International Multiple District (MD), covering 31 Revenue Districts of Telangana. The campaign encourages everyone to go for the vaccination.

The function was attended by SVR Chandra Sekhar, CEO, Secunderabad Cantonment Board; R. Sunil Kumar, former international director of the Intl Association of Lions Clubs; Lion Prof. V Gopal Reddy, Lions Multiple District Council Chairman and Lion K Govindraj, Project Chairman.