SOUTH SUDAN – The Republic of South Sudan has kick-started a reactive measles vaccination campaign in Juba County targeting 37,390 children aged between 6 months to 14 years amid the spate of measles outbreaks in the region.
South Sudan, through the Ministry of Health, is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners in Kator, Rajaf payams and two internally displaced persons (IDP) sites in Juba to roll out the measles vaccination drive.
The national vaccination campaign against measles follows the confirmation of polio outbreaks in five payams in Juba County particularly 79 measles cases with no deaths have been reported from the five affected payams since mid-July 2022.
Furthermore, the ongoing vaccination drive comes at a time when the routine immunization coverage for measles vaccine in Juba was reported to be below 50% during the first half of 2022, which is below than the expected of 95 percent.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Health has partnered with WHO to conduct measles vaccination activities at health centres, schools and outreach centres aimed at maximizing access to all the vulnerable members of the community.
WHO and partners have also supported the Ministry of Health to enhance measles surveillance and strengthen case management for measles through refresher training for frontline healthcare workers, surveillance officers, and the state and county rapid response teams.
Juba county has a history of recurring measles outbreaks with one outbreak confirmed in 2017 and a more recent one in 2019. The current outbreak started with the initial cases being reported in mid-July 2022 which led to further investigation and confirmation of the outbreak in five payams in Juba County.
The reactive measles campaign aims to interrupt the ongoing transmission of the measles virus in Juba County and to protect children from debilitating effects of the virus since Juba has a history of recurring measles outbreaks.
In addition, countries are advised to strengthen their routine immunization programmes to reach all the vulnerable children to reduce the illness and death caused by measles as it is one of the most contagious diseases affecting humans.
Dr Jamal Hassen, Director General, Ministry of Health Central Equatoria State said that measles vaccines are safe and effective, inexpensive and provide long-lasting protection while highlighting that measles is preventable and can be eliminated by vaccination.
“In South Sudan, the Ministry provides routine vaccination services against vaccine preventable diseases for the community free of charge to prevent children against measles,” Dr Jamal Hassen further said.
WHO Representative in South Sudan Dr Fabian Ndenzako pointed out that COVID-19 has disrupted immunization programmes around the world hence increasing the risk of severe outbreaks ,noting that vaccines remains the most cost-effective preventive measure against measles.
Dr Fabian Ndenzako lauded Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for supporting the vaccination drive in South Sudan, adding that the ongoing reactive campaign focused on building immunity among over 37,000 children who are vulnerable to measles infections and its complications.
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