Students across Oahu are taking the "measles initiative" to stop the spread of the deadly, highly contagious virus in third world countries.
Despite medical advancements and the measles vaccine about 450 people die from the virus everyday, which means more needs to be done to stop infection.
"It's a really big epidemic in developing countries like Africa and all over south east Asia and India," said Coralie Chun Matayoshi, from the American Red Cross Hawaii. "We have made a really big impact because in the ten year period we've vaccinated one billion children against measles."
Partnered with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, UNICEF, the UN Foundation and the World Health Organization, the American Red Cross has launched the measles initiative to stop the illness from spreading over the past ten years.
"It takes only less than one dollar to vaccinate a child and save their life," Coralie said.
And they aren't alone.
La Pietra School student Hanna Apa says, "I have always had a liking for helping others that are less fortunate."
Students from The Red Cross Clubs at La Pietra, Aiea High School and Chaminade University have joined in to raise money to pay for measles vaccinations.
"Some of them may have misconceptions about it because you never meet anyone with measles here because we do get the vaccination for it," Apa said.
Students have sold measles awareness pins for a dollar to contribute to the cause, and other local fundraisers are in the works too. Apa thinks it's "just knowing that even though you have never met the person you're saving their life, and I am sure that it means a lot to a lot of them."
www.measlesinitiative.org
