JUBA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan, the UN agencies and other international partners on Monday launched a nationwide campaign to vaccinate more than 2.7 million children aged between 6 months and 59 months against measles.
The drive, launched by the Ministry of Health in partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other key partners, will be integrated with Vitamin A and deworming campaigns, helping deliver multiple interventions effectively.
"Vaccination is a foundation for a healthy population, healthy nation right from childhood," said Yolanda Awel Deng, South Sudan's minister of Health, according to a joint statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
The launch of the measles vaccination campaign highlights South Sudan's resilience in rolling out immunization campaigns despite competing health priorities including recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the statement.
Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus and occurs seasonally in endemic areas. Among malnourished children and immunocompromised people, measles can also cause serious complications, including blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhea, ear infection, and pneumonia. Measles outbreaks are particularly dangerous in countries like South Sudan, where malnutrition and weakened immune systems make children more vulnerable, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Acting WHO Representative in South Sudan Fabian Ndenzako said the country is currently facing a surge in measles cases, noting that this highly infectious virus presents with various symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and conjunctivitis. "The nationwide campaign will play a crucial role in reducing illness and deaths caused by measles," Ndenzako added.
Between January 2022 and February 2023, health authorities in South Sudan reported an outbreak of measles, with more than 4,000 suspected cases and 46 deaths across the country, according to data from the WHO. It said the country has conducted several outbreak response campaigns to help mitigate public health impact, and this nationwide push is vital because 95 percent coverage is required to curb transmission.
The WHO said the campaign will use a combination of fixed and outreach vaccination sites, with a focus on reaching children in remote areas.
Amy LaTrielle, the director for Fragile and Conflict at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said vaccinating children is the most cost-effective way to protect them from this deadly disease. "What is so important and innovative about this approach is that not only are we providing this critical health intervention, but we are also ensuring children receive vital nutrition and other essential health services," LaTrielle said.
The campaign will also include community mobilization activities to raise awareness of the importance of measles vaccination.
UNICEF South Sudan's Acting Representative Eric Alain Ategbo said it is important to vaccinate all children, boost their immunity and ensure their protection against diseases like measles. "Vaccines save children's lives. UNICEF's support of this important campaign is vital to ensure that every child is spared from this preventable disease," she said. ■
