Measles is an acute and highly contagious disease caused by Measles virus. Measles is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries, particularly, in sub-Saharan Africa, where combinations of factors such as overcrowding, exposure at a younger age, malnutrition, and humanitarian crisis contribute to substantially higher case of fatality rates. Deaths from Measles occur mainly due to post-Measles complications. The high morbidity and mortality from Measles could have been avoided if all children were vaccinated against the disease.

The Tigray RHB has received a report of 22 Measles suspected cases and the outbreak was happened in the most inaccessible catchments of Ofla and Zata Weredas (six Tabias; - Namely, Adi-Shumbereket, May-maedo, Sesela, Simret, Dera- Bekeda and Dera-Ashena). Following the reports from the Wereda health offices and health centres, TYES has communicated for the emergency response for all the partners and regional health bureau. The reported cases were verified through the collaborative effort of Amhara region and MSF experts functioning in the nearby Weredas through collection and testing of five blood samples taken to Bahirdar. Receiving the confirmation of 5 positive cases report from the partner (MSF), the Tigray regional health bureau has called for support for all partners, Mainly UNICEF, TYES, WHO and others. The regional health bureau has developed a micro plan on the possible solutions for the outbreak and distributed to all partners in the region.  Consecutive meetings were conducted and presentations including discussion sessions were executed at the health cluster coordination (HCC) and emergency operations centre (EOC) in the region. However, the response for the outbreak from the partners was not satisfactory and no support was promised from the other partners except from UNICEF through Tigray Youth Empowerment Solutions (TYES).

UNICEF and the implementing partner TYES, in collaboration with Tigray RHB took immediate actions using available resources – financial, vaccines, nutrition supplies and traditional transportation mechanism. Hence, the response was provided based on the micro-plan developed by the Tigray regional bureau experts from RCCE, PHEM, RMNCAH and Nutrition case teams in collaboration with UNICEF and TYES and implemented in an integrated modality.

Based on the micro plan, the total catchment population of the four tabias in Ofla Wereda was 46,653 and using the conversion factor for 6 to 59 months age group (13%), the target population for measles vaccination was 6,065. During the sessions the actual number of children received the measles vaccination are 6,626 (109%). Since the final day of the vaccination till now there are no AEFI cases reported for measles and other vaccinations.

In Zata wereda (2 Tabias), the total population of the two kebeles is 14,180. Hence, the target children for measles were 1,843 where 1,825 (99%) vaccinated during this response. During the vaccination sessions there were no AEFI cases reported. Hence in both weredas (6 tabias), a total of 8,451 children (107%) were vaccinated against the targeted 7,908.