WASHINGTON (American Red Cross) -- The American Red Cross will celebrate World Red Cross Day on May 8, remembering the efforts that all National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies do worldwide to advocate for the relief of human suffering, whether from disease, famine, disaster or war. This May 8, the American Red Cross puts special focus on our programs that keep children healthy and safe around the globe.

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provide relief as the world's largest humanitarian network, with activities and presence in more than 170 countries. The National Societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent comprise more than 97 million members and volunteers - the world's largest volunteer force -- assisting some 233 million beneficiaries each year. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield and to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day was born in 1922, just after World War I, when the Red Cross National Society in the Czech Republic proclaimed a three-day truce at Easter to promote peace. The idea behind the truce was to recognize one day every year during which the Red Cross would advocate for the relief of human suffering from disease and the humanity of seeing a world free from suffering due to war. May 8, the anniversary of the birth of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, was chosen to be that day and was called World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day.

"Humanitarian crises, such as famine and disease, almost inevitably rise out of war and civil unrest. Many times, vaccine-preventable diseases can be a leading cause of death during these situations. By vaccinating children during such crises, we can help prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles. However, the best way to prevent occurrences is by proactively eliminating the disease. The American Red Cross and its partners are accomplishing this in Africa and other regions with the Measles Initiative," said Dr. Mark Grabowsky, senior health advisor for the American Red Cross.

Measles is the single leading vaccine-preventable cause of death among children in Africa and kills more children than AIDS, tuberculosis or malnutrition. The Measles Initiative began with the same ideals of the 1922 truce advocating for relief of human suffering. This long-term lifesaving program came to life with the assistance of other international health leaders including the UN Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and UNICEF.

The Measles Initiative is a long-term commitment to control measles deaths in Africa by vaccinating 200 million children, preventing 1.2 million deaths over five years. Leading this effort are the American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund. Other key players in the fight against measles include the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and countries and governments affected by measles. Within the first two years of the Initiative (2001, 2002) more than 64 million children have been vaccinated in 12 sub-Saharan African countries. It is estimated that nearly 100,000 deaths have been prevented already.

May 8 is one month before the Measles Initiative kicks off its third year starting with Zambia's week-long vaccination campaign on June 8 to vaccinate more than five million children, preventing nearly 4,000 deaths.

Other American Red Cross international health-specific programs include:

The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) helps to save the lives of thousands of children who would otherwise die from easily prevented diseases. As some of the world's most vulnerable people, seven out of 10 children die from five preventable conditions: diarrheal disease, acute respiratory infection, measles, malaria and malnutrition.

The Africa Women's Initiative (AWI) is a joint effort by the American Red Cross and African Red Cross societies to reduce the high rate of maternal and child mortality in Africa. AWI is a five-year, integrated, community-based health education and advocacy program with a gender component.

As part of the world's largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross alleviates the suffering of victims of war, disaster and other international emergencies, and works with other Red Cross societies to improve chronic, life-threatening conditions in developing nations. We reconnect families separated by emergencies and educate the American public about international humanitarian law. This assistance is made possible through the generosity of the American public.

To help the victims of this and other disasters, financial contributions can be made to the American Red Cross International Response Fund by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting www.redcross.org. Contributions also may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. For more information, or to support the Measles Initiative, log on to www.measlesinitiative.org.