World Health Organization WHO has today recognized the Maldives for eliminating endemic rubella virus infection during the 73rd Regional Committee.

Maldives is one of the first countries in the region to achieve measles and rubella elimination 3 years ahead of the regional target.

In its citation, WHO said the commendable achievement was made possible by the strong leadership and commitment of the Maldivian government and with sustained collaboration with the WHO and its partners along with the active support of healthcare workers, volunteers, and communities at all levels of the health sector.

WHO said that it deemed it a great honor to recognize this achievement by the Maldives and especially its Health Ministry and Health Protection Agency HPA and congratulate the country for this remarkable public health success.

HPA said that through mass vaccination campaigns for young adults and high vaccine coverage in children, Maldives has been able to interrupt transmission of rubella.

HPA noted that the country has a strong laboratory-supported epidemiological surveillance system for rubella.

It recognized the hard work of healthcare workers who have made this achievement possible and said that it was committed to continuing efforts to maintain the elimination of measles and rubella.