South Sudan secured over 282 150 doses of oral cholera vaccine to contain the cholera outbreak – Africa.com
In response to the cholera epidemic in South Sudan, the Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), has obtained more than 282 153 doses of oral cholera vaccine for vaccination campaigns in identified hotspots of cholera transmission.
Oral cholera vaccine (OCV) is provided by the International Coordinating Group (ICG), which coordinates and manages global vaccine stocks in countries during cholera outbreaks. The vaccines will be used to implement a two-dose mass vaccination campaign in Lenk and Malakal counties in Upper Nile State. Additional doses will be shipped over the coming days to support response efforts at other affected locations. Vaccination campaigns are aimed at mitigating cholera outbreaks in these areas.
The vaccines, procured and delivered by UNICEF Supply with support from the Vaccine Alliance, will be strategically deployed to Upper Nile State and other priority locations. This work is part of a comprehensive prevention and response strategy to tackle cholera, a serious and preventable diarrheal disease, and safeguard the health of vulnerable communities.
Yolanda Awel Deng, South Sudan’s Minister of Health, stressed that “cholera prevention is a top priority in the field of multi-sectoral intervention.” The OCV campaign aims to protect vulnerable groups and serves as a tool for implementing sustainable water, sanitation and Foundational steps for personal hygiene (WASH) interventions.
Given the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and the ongoing cholera epidemic caused by limited access to safe drinking water and poor sanitation services, a ring vaccination strategy will be used to maximize the impact of Impact interventions of the vaccination campaign include enhanced cholera surveillance, patient care, risk communication, and improved and sustainable WASH interventions.
Dr. Humphrey Kalamaji, WHO Representative in South Sudan, emphasized that “despite the epidemic of cholera in South Sudan, this time WHO and its partners and the Ministry of Health are better prepared to combat cholera through targeted interventions to contain the epidemic and reduce its spread.”
“Strategic interventions include conducting OCV activities in high-risk areas, training state-level Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), and pre-deployment and provision of diagnostic test kits and essential supplies to manage patients. These measures have enhanced surveillance and response to suspected and confirmed cases. There was a rapid response,” Dr. Kalamaji said.
“Cholera remains a major threat to the health of vulnerable people in South Sudan, especially children and women. UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health and other partners to improve water, sanitation and hygiene through functional cold chain systems, improved water, sanitation and hygiene, and behavioral Transform efforts to ensure more people have access to life-saving vaccines to address the root causes of this preventable disease. Together we can protect communities and build a healthier and more resilient future,” said UNICEF Representative Hami. said Hamida Lasseko.
The Ministry of Health will launch the vaccination campaign in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières and other health sector partners in affected countries.
Cholera continues to pose a major public health challenge in South Sudan, exacerbated by the ongoing humanitarian crisis that primarily affects children, women and other vulnerable groups. Repeated outbreaks of cholera show that people remain vulnerable to the disease, which can be prevented and treated.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.
