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).
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.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus
- GS Paper 2 – Governance & Social Justice:
- 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.
