Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Ministry of Health and health partners are expected to roll out oral cholera vaccination exercise in Juba County.
The exercise, which will involve the World Health Organisation (WHO), will assist in reaching out to more than 633, 000 people in Juba County.
“The oral cholera vaccine (OCV) confers immunity up to a maximum of three years.” “We appreciate the efforts of the state Ministry of Health and partners in organizing the campaign,” said Yolanda Awel Deng the Minister of Health.
“It is high time another round of OCV is conducted to prevent the occurrence of cholera in Juba.” And I urge everyone eligible for this vaccine to receive the oral cholera vaccine in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from Cholera,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the WHO Representative for South Sudan, Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, said the country had experienced several cholera outbreaks, affecting vulnerable populations in IDP camps, urban informal settlements, and cattle camps, as well as rural populations, island dwellers, and communities along the Nile.
“Oral cholera vaccines provide protection in the immediate term and serve as a bridge to rolling out long-term and sustainable Wash interventions in cholera hotspots,” Dr. Ndenzako said.
“Cholera has been spreading in populations with inadequate hygiene and sanitation conditions. Hence, sustained and intensified cholera prevention and response efforts are critical for mitigating the risk of recurrent and persistent cholera outbreaks.”
He thanked Gavi and the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on vaccine provision for their financial support, which includes WHO, IOM, UNICEF, Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC),
According to the report from the ministry of health, since January 2022, over 175 000 people have been vaccinated in the first and second rounds of Oral Cholera Vaccination campaigns in Bentiu and Rubkona counties in Unity state.
South Sudan reported over 28,600 cases of cholera in 2014-2017, leading to 644 deaths. There were no cholera cases confirmed from 2018 – 2021. Currently, an outbreak of cholera was declared in Bentiu, Unity State on May 7, 2022, with a positive culture result obtained from National Public Health Laboratory on April 14, 2022.
Cholera is a killer disease but can be prevented if people have access to clean drinking water and adequate toilet facilities.
It affects both children and adults and can lead to death within hours if untreated. Cholera spread through contaminated food and water, and it can spread quickly and widely in overcrowded, unclean conditions.
Cholera spreads through contaminated food and water, and it can spread quickly and widely in overcrowded, unclean conditions.
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