Measles Nearly one million children die from measles each year—500,000 in Africa alone.  In 2003, the Church donated $3 million (USD) to support a worldwide initiative with the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children’s Fund, World Health Organization, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide measles vaccinations to 200 million children in 40 countries. The first vaccination campaign with Church participation was in Madagascar in October 2004.  Volunteer missionary couples, serving as short-term specialists from the Church, produced radio and television public service announcements and organized Church members to support mobilization efforts. In addition, Church members who were physicians provided vaccinations. Church members worldwide donated more than 8,000 hours in contacting their neighbors door-to-door and assisting with record-keeping and other activities at vaccination sites.  Through the combined efforts of the Church and its partners, 97 percent of the at-risk children living in these vaccination sites were vaccinated. In 2005 and 2006, the Church will participate in measles vaccination campaigns in the Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Measles Initiative Saving African Children