children in world (measles )

Although there is safe and effective vaccine available to protect against measles,the disease still remains the fifth leading cause of death among the children under five years of Bangladesh . Millions of children mostly from the urban poor ,street children , and rural hard to reach areas are not yet vaccinated against measles –a highly infectious viral disease .Unicef estimates about 25-33 per cent of young Bangladeshi children at rice . Ministry of health and family welfare and Unicef have given the utmost importance on it and launched a tow week nationwide measles campaign in order to eradicate the disease from the county .

The compaign scheduled from

february 14-28, aimed at bringing 20 million children under vaccination against measles . This is the second largest initiative in Bangladesh after 2005-2006 campaign when about 35 million children were immunized throughout the county . During the campaign period , children aged 9 month to less that 5 years will be immunised will free measles vaccine . Children who received the vaccine before measles will also need to be immunised with a second dose which is recommended to ensure that the child is fully immunised .

The number fo measles outbreak declined significantly in Bangladesh after the first major campaign . After the campaign ,on measles outbreak was reported except in 2008 and 2009 . Although incidence of measles is declining , Bangladesh along with other countries of south –East Asia are still far away from reaching  the target of reducing measles –death 90 per cent by 2010 . According to WHO still about 20000 children die annually from measles in Bangladesh . Health experts underscored the importance of large –scale vaccination campaigns along with irregular campaign  for a better progress .

Although measles deaths have dropped significantly , global immunization experts warn of resurgence in measles deaths if vaccination efforts are not sustained . Measles is incredibly resilient and has a tremendous power of rapid comeback . In the USA , 55000 measles cases and more than 130 deaths occurred  between 1989 and 1991, a period when it came back virulently after successfully reducing of measles death.

  Experts recommended that countries must continue follow –up  vaccination campaigns every tow to four yours until their healthcare systems can provide tow doses of measles vaccination to all children and provide treatment for the disease to eliminate the risk of resurgence .

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease affects mostly the children . It spreads affects through droplets from the note , mouth  or throat of infected cases . Initial symptoms ,which usually appear 812 days after infection , include high fever , runny note , bloodshot eyes and tiny write sport (called Koplik”s spot) inside of the mouth . Several days later , rash develops ,starting  on the face and upper neck gradually spreading downwards .

There is no specific treatment for measles and most people recover within 23 weeks . however , 1-5 per cent of children die of the complications of disease . particularly  in malnourished children and people with reduced immunity , measles can cause serious complications , including blindness , encephalitis , ( a dangerous infection of the brain causing inflammation ), severe diarrhea , eat infection and pneumonia .

All people should join the campaign to prevent unnecessary deaths and complications from measles . We have to make sure that all children receive the vaccine to reach the target of reducing death from the  target of reducing death from measles , to achieve the Millennium Development  Goal(MDG) 4 and allow children to enjoy their right to survive in a healthy conditio

world Asia on the rise

“Education under Attack 2010” is the second report on the subject ;the first was published in 2007 .

The number of politically and ideologically motivated attacks on teachers , students and school buildings is rising , says the repot “Education under attack 2010” , launched by UNESCO on 10 February  . These attacks are perpetrated by non  state armed groups and state actors alike .

This report is launched together with a second UNESCO publication entitled “protecting Education from Attack: A  state of the Art Review “ , in which several experts take critical stock of knowledge on prevention and response , with respect to both international law and interventions on the ground . The review   also shares the recommendations generated by a seminar  on the subject held in Paris in 2009 .

The publication of these reports has been made possible by the generous support of Her Highness Sheikha  Mozah     Bint Nasser  al Missned of Qatar , UNESCO  Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education , whose work in recent years has helped bring the issue of attacks on education to the attention of international  policy  makers and  the  wider  public .

The tow texts comprise both an assessment of the current  situation and a call to action , in the of violence that appears to be rising dramatically , following a more general pattern of increased attacks on civilians and aid workers  in recent years .

Three years ago , when UNESCO  commissioned  the first  “Education under Attack  “ study , the problem was little known . “Education under Attack  2010 “notes growing awareness within united Nations agencies , non  governmental organizations (NGOs) and public opinion of the recurring nature of these attacks , which are not exceptional or isolated incidents . Above all , the report demonstrates that the destruction of schools and the murder of students and teachers are not limited to acts by the Taliban in Afghanistan or Pakistan in opposition to the education of girls and women .

The 2010 report reveals that the problem is much more extensive .  Education was attacked  in at least  32 countries between January 2007 and July 2009 . Often , an attack on the educational system represents an attack on the state . Conversely , certain states or paramilitary organizations may target academics in order to neutralize real or imagined  opponents .

The report also covers the issue of child soldiers the number of which is currently estimated at 250,000 worldwide . Abductions are frequently carried out for the purpose of forced recruitment or sexual violence against girls . The report expresses  particular concern  about the systematic nature of crimes committed and sinister tactics used in several countries against teachers , pupils and unionized education workers .

Irina Bokova  , the Director  General of UNESCO  , has underlined that UNESCO is concerned by these attacks  for three reasons : they “constitute a threat to the right to  life , and a threat to the right to education , which is itself the Key to other freedoms and basic rights ; lastly , these attacks jeopardize the achievement of the Education for All goals”.  The Education for All (EFA) campaign is a global commitment to provide quality  universal  education by 2015 .

The report also examines the reasons why attacks on education often attract little attention and it points to the  role that the International Criminal court (ICC) could play in strengthening accountability and ending impunity for such attacks .