As published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals .

Each year, measles, a disease that has virtually been eliminated in the Western Hemisphere, kills nearly 345,000 people globally. Of those, most are children younger than five. Measles is a leading vaccine-preventable childhood killer, and millions of children remain at risk.

The good news is that measles can be prevented with a simple vaccination that costs less than one dollar per child, and the American Red Cross is actively involved in grassroots fundraising and education to enable a widespread vaccination campaign.

On Feb. 9, Kathy Lass, director of international services for the St. Louis Area Chapter, joined Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center to discuss the Measles Initiative and other Red Cross international services during a live interview on KJFF Radio (1400-AM). The Measles Initiative was launched in 2001 as a collaborative effort led by the American Red Cross, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. By 2010, the initiative has set an ambitious goal of cutting measles deaths by 90 percent.

Already, the Measles Initiative has made a significant impact. During its first five years, the campaign was the main international supporter of mass measles immunizations and led to the vaccination of more than 217 million children, predominately in Africa. From 1999 to 2005, measles deaths in Africa dropped by 75 percent, from 506,000 to 126,000, largely due to the support provided by the Measles Initiative and the international community. Building on its success in Africa, the initiative has expanded into Asia.

The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter coordinates local education and fundraising related to the Measles Initiative, frequently offering presentations to community organizations. Its most recent awareness effort featured the sale of chocolate roses for Valentine's Day. The roses were assembled by a team of dedicated volunteers and were sold for $2 each at distribution sites throughout the community. Because measles vaccinations cost less than $1 each, there is a potential to save two lives for each chocolate rose sold.

Lass and Ruiz provided an overview of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, noting that the American Red Cross is one of approximately 180 sister societies worldwide. The Movement is guided by seven fundamental principles - humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Locally, the St. Louis Area Chapter provides free presentations related to the Geneva Conventions, initiates international tracing and messaging services, and helps coordinate outreach to local refugee populations.

In 2006, the St. Louis Area Chapter educated more than 3,700 local citizens in Red Cross international services. As part of this outreach, the Chapter partners with Washington University law students to increase awareness among area high school students regarding the significance of the Geneva Conventions.

The Geneva Conventions are international treaties designed for protection of victims of war, including wounded and sick military personnel, prisoners of war, and the civilian population in areas of conflict. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the guardian of the Geneva Conventions.

International tracing and messaging services focus on locating missing loved ones, exchanging family messages and initiating health and welfare inquires. With support from the National Holocaust Tracing Center in Baltimore and the ICRC's International Tracing Service, the Red Cross is involved in Holocaust tracing to help those trying to discover the fate of loved ones and friends lost during World War II in Europe and the former Soviet Union.

Newly discovered documentation identifies civilian victims of World War II and adds to the vast array of documents already available. This offers new hope that details regarding lost loved ones may finally be found.

To welcome refugee families to the local area, the Red Cross, local schools, Scout troops and other organizations team up to provide Welcome Baskets that contain basic household supplies. Refugees often leave everything behind to start a new life in a new environment and Red Cross outreach helps ease the transition to life in a new country and community. The St. Louis Area Chapter continues its ongoing and outstanding relationship with the International Institute to address emerging needs in the refugee community.

For more information about Red Cross international services, including the Measles Initiative, presentations highlighting the Geneva Conventions, tracing and messaging, or local outreach to refugees, call the Jefferson County Service Center at 636.464.9150 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.

The next Red Cross interview will air live on KJFF - AM Radio at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 9.