Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Juba (Agenzia Fides) - A few days ago, the South Sudanese Ministry of Health confirmed the increase in corona infections (see Fides 17/2/2021) in various states of the country. But the country's health sector is also facing other health problems, which is why the ministry recently launched a polio vaccination campaign for over 29,000 children aged 0 to 5 across the northern state of Bahrel-Ghazal.
Cases of polio disease still exist in the country even though the disease is no longer considered endemic. The initiative started once the vaccines were received from Juba, thanks to the availability of 800 vaccinators. "We have managed to employ 825 teams of vaccinators in the five counties of northern Bahr-el-Ghazal state. We also received a total of 18,259 doses of vaccine to cover the areas targeted for immunization. Our goal is to vaccinate 29,452 children", said officials of the Health Pooled Fund (HPF).
"HPF is a government-led project and we are committed to all of our partners. We have called them together so that each partner can contribute their own human resources and people are able to reach project locations within the five counties".
Santino Ngong Chan, State Director of the Expansion of the Immunization Program (EPI), urged local communities to work with volunteer vaccinators to ensure that their children are immunized by the end of the scheduled period. Villagers have in all cases complained that such services should be extended to rural areas as well. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 19/2/2021)
