At a vaccination center set under a neem tree in Hai Jalaba neighbourhood in Malakal town, Nyatuka Othow arrived with her three children, aged one, three and five years respectively to receive oral cholera vaccine.

“My children and I can’t miss this opportunity”, said Othow, a 32-year-old mother of three after taking the vaccine. “It scares me to hear people dying from cholera in Malakal, therefore I made it a routine to ensure that my children are vaccinated against all diseases, so they are protected”.

In a move to prevent a cholera outbreak from spreading, the Ministry of Health of South Sudan with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and health partners are ramping up disease surveillance and treatment efforts in Upper Nile State. In Malakal, 569 cholera cases have been reported, including 2 deaths since the cholera outbreak in Malakal was declared on 7 March 2023.

As a proactive preventive measure, WHO along with the Ministry of Health and partners are conducting an oral cholera vaccination campaign to reach over 53 000 people one year and above in Malakal town and the Malakal Protection of Civilians (PoC).

Honorable Dr Ernest Apuktong, the State Minister of Health, Upper Nile State, said “The risk of further spread of diseases is a major concern. With the coming rains, it is realistic to expect an increase in water-borne diseases “We are now responding in Malakal while at the same time preparing to respond to similar scenarios in other parts of the State”.    

“Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that causes massive loss of body fluids and can be deadly within hours if not adequately treated. WHO is taking all the necessary control measures to support the Ministry of Health to respond to the situation urgently, and put an end to this outbreak”, said Dr Fabian Ndenzako, the WHO Representative a.i. for South Sudan. WHO has also strengthened disease surveillance and comprehensive disease investigation, including following up on people who may have come into contact with the disease.

We thank the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and South Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SSHF), for committing the resources promptly for a swift response, this is yielding fruits now given those communities who got vaccinated are protected.

WHO and partners are also supporting social mobilization and community engagement activities. The media is currently airing cholera prevention messages and a toll-free phone line to report cholera cases has been activated.

As a preventive measure, partners are also strengthening Infection prevention and control measures by conducting general cleaning within Malakal town.

The vaccination campaign alongside other ongoing interventions such as enhanced surveillance, and improved Infection and prevention measures among others will go a long way in preventing the widespread outbreak, thus, saving the lives of the population.

WHO is committed to containing the cholera outbreak in South Sudan.

Technical contacts:
Dr Aggrey Bategereza, Email: bategerezaa [at] who.int
Dr Mustafa Lasu, Email: lasum [at] who.int