Description

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially certified Nepal as free from rubella, marking a remarkable achievement in the country’s public health journey. This milestone reflects Nepal’s determined efforts to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases despite facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and frequent natural disasters. With this, Nepal has become the sixth nation in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve rubella elimination, strengthening the region’s collective goal of eradicating the disease by 2026.

Know About Rubella

• Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection.

• While generally mild in children and adults, it poses severe risks for pregnant women, often leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious congenital birth defects.

• The disease can be completely prevented through safe, affordable, and effective vaccination.

• Its elimination protects future generations from lifelong health complications.

Nepal’s Journey To Rubella Elimination

Nepal introduced the rubella vaccine in 2012 through a nationwide immunization campaign targeting children between 9 months and 15 years of age. A second dose was later included in the routine vaccination schedule in 2016.

Between 2012 and 2024, the country conducted four large-scale vaccination drives (2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024). Despite the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nepal managed to maintain over 95% vaccination coverage by 2024, a critical threshold for rubella elimination.

Innovative Strategies Adopted

To achieve high coverage, Nepal introduced creative and community-driven strategies:

• Declaring “Immunization Month” to intensify vaccination activities.

• Conducting outreach programmes to cover children who missed routine doses.

• Encouraging districts to attain the “fully immunized” status, motivating local health teams.

These approaches fostered community trust and boosted the dedication of healthcare workers, paving the way for success.

Strong Surveillance And Monitoring

Nepal also built a robust laboratory-based surveillance system, introducing a new testing algorithm that was the first of its kind in the South-East Asia Region. This system strengthened case detection, improved reporting accuracy, and enabled faster responses.

The Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella thoroughly reviewed Nepal’s data and confirmed that the country had met the requirements for rubella elimination.

Nepal In Regional And Global Context

With this recognition, Nepal joins Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste in eliminating rubella. The South-East Asia Region aims to eliminate measles and rubella by 2026, a target set after delays caused by the pandemic.

Nepal’s achievement underscores the impact of strong government leadership, continued support from WHO and Gavi, and active participation from local communities.

Public Health Significance

Rubella elimination brings significant health benefits:

• Prevents congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) and associated lifelong disabilities.

• Strengthens national immunization programmes and healthcare systems.

• Demonstrates that even under difficult circumstances, vaccine-preventable diseases can be defeated with sustained effort and community involvement.

Nepal’s success story now serves as a model for other nations aiming to eliminate rubella and other preventable diseases in the coming years.

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