Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign

Context: Union Health Minister launched the National ‘Zero Measles-Rubella’ Elimination Campaign 2025–26, reaffirming India’s target to eliminate both diseases by 2026.

About Zero Measles-Rubella Elimination Campaign:

• A national immunization initiative to eliminate measles and rubella, two highly contagious viral diseases affecting children.

• Launched By: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

• Aim: Achieve zero transmission of measles and rubella by 2026 through 95%+ vaccination coverage in all districts.

• Key Features: Intensive IEC outreach in multilingual formats (posters, jingles, campaign films). Data-based monitoring through IDSP and the U-WIN digital platform. Focused vaccination drives in high-risk pockets (slums, remote areas, migrant clusters). Recognition of progress: India received the Measles and Rubella Champion Award (2024).

• Intensive IEC outreach in multilingual formats (posters, jingles, campaign films).

• Data-based monitoring through IDSP and the U-WIN digital platform.

• Focused vaccination drives in high-risk pockets (slums, remote areas, migrant clusters).

• Recognition of progress: India received the Measles and Rubella Champion Award (2024).

About ‘ACT NOW’ Approach:

• What It Is: A mobilization strategy to accelerate campaign outcomes via community participation and rapid action.

• Key Features: Active surveillance via Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). Community mobilization by involving local panchayats, elected leaders, and media. Targeted outreach in urban slums, migratory zones, and outbreak-prone areas. NOW: Urgency-driven implementation with real-time response mechanisms.

• Active surveillance via Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

• Community mobilization by involving local panchayats, elected leaders, and media.

• Targeted outreach in urban slums, migratory zones, and outbreak-prone areas.

• NOW: Urgency-driven implementation with real-time response mechanisms.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus

• GS Paper 2 – Governance & Social Justice: Topics: Health policies, immunization programs, cooperative federalism, last-mile service delivery.

• Topics: Health policies, immunization programs, cooperative federalism, last-mile service delivery.

• GS Paper 4 – Ethics in Public Administration: Application of compassion, commitment, and integrity in delivering health services to vulnerable populations. Emphasis on duty consciousness of frontline health workers and ethical leadership by administrators.

• Application of compassion, commitment, and integrity in delivering health services to vulnerable populations.

• Emphasis on duty consciousness of frontline health workers and ethical leadership by administrators.