Amsterdam, 10 November 2021 - According to WHO, despite significant advances in driving down child mortality rates in recent decades, almost 5.2 million children under five still die every year from preventable and treatable diseases, most of whom are in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Leading causes are (pre-term) birth complications as well as preventable and/or treatable health issues such as malaria and measles. While in most high-income countries, measles are no longer common thanks to vaccination at an early age, measles continues to be an issue in LMICs. Severe measles is more likely among poorly nourished young children, especially those with insufficient vitamin A, or whose immune systems have been weakened by HIV/AIDS or other diseases.

Measles kit

To reach LMICs with the right medicines, equipment and supplies needed to treat moderate and severe cases of measles in both children and adults, IDA has extended its kit portfolio with a measles kit, consisting of 6 modules. These modules contain medicines and supplies to target 20 simple measle cases, but is sufficient for the treatment of 50 malnourished children with basic medication, while the malaria module targets the treatment of 60 babies, 90 children and 5 complicated cases.

Kit range

This kit complements the other kits currently in IDA's Kit range, such as the (paediatric) Severe and Acute Malnutrition Kit (PED/SAM) and the updated Cholera kit (2020). With health issues such as malnutrition, diarrhoea and measles affecting children most severely, it is important to have paediatric formulations available for the appropriate treatment regimens.

For more information on IDA's kits, please see our Kitting page.