The Ministry of Health stated today that UNICEF has donated 28,000 doses of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine to the Maldives.

The ministry stated that this was a donation given by the organization to assist the "Outbreak Response Immunization" program being carried out to control the measles outbreak currently spreading in the Maldives.

At a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health for this purpose, the vaccines were handed over on behalf of UNICEF by the organization's Representative to the Maldives, Dr. Edward Addai. Health Minister Geela Ali accepted the vaccines on behalf of the Maldivian government.

Encouraging everyone eligible for vaccination to get vaccinated, Geela stated that taking action is important for the safety of oneself and one's family.

"Protecting yourself is an important step taken to protect your family, the community, and the most vulnerable individuals among us who are susceptible to illnesses," the Minister said.

According to the Ministry of Health, this assistance from UNICEF will play a vital role in stopping the spread of measles.

So far, 5,495 people have been vaccinated under the program.

The ministry stated that teams are continuously carrying out the vaccination work in the Malé area and the islands of the atolls.

According to data released yesterday by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), 55 cases of measles were detected in the Malé area last week alone. The HPA added that with these new cases, a total of 121 measles cases have been reported so far this year.

The ongoing measles outbreak in the Maldives is predominantly affecting individuals between the ages of 15 and 35. Only four children have contracted the disease so far.

Measles is a disease that was eradicated in the Maldives in 2017. However, individuals infected with the disease have been detected in the Maldives from time to time since then.