South Sudan News

Juba, South Sudan, 23 April 2014 -- More than 2.4 million children will be vaccinated in a nation-wide measles, polio and Vitamin A campaign, launched today by the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The integrated Immunization Campaign for Measles, Polio and Vitamin A supplementation in South Sudan aims to reduce the incidence of measles to less than five cases per million and to boost the population’s immunity against Polio. South Sudan has been polio free since June 2009 – almost five years.

On 25 April 2014, South Sudan joined millions of people around the world to observe World Malaria day under the global theme, ’Invest in the future: Defeat Malaria,’ and locally under the theme, ‘Together we can defeat Malaria’. 

The Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization has declared an outbreak of cholera in Juba, South Sudan. This declaration follows reports of 18 suspected cholera cases including one death and one laboratory confirmed case on 6th May 2014 of an IDP who got sick in Gudele and was brought to UN House IDP camp following tests conducted by the AMREF laboratory in Nairobi.

The Ministry of Health with support of the World Health Organization has launched the first National Malaria Strategic Plan, 2014 to 2021, at a well organized ceremony at the Independence Hall in Juba, South Sudan.

The WHO Country Representative, Dr Abdi Aden Mohammed, who represented all UN agencies, pledged that health partners will continue supporting the MoH of South Sudan to reduce the burden of malaria. He said that malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the new nation, with the majority of the affected being children and pregnant mothers.

The World Health Organisation is supporting South Sudan’s Ministry of Health to review its national policy as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s health system.

The process began with a three-day dialogue to review the National Health Policy 2007 – 2011, the National Health Sector Development Plan 2012 – 2016, the Ministerial Policy Statement Framework 2012 – 2016 and update the National Health Policy from 24 to 26 June 2014, in Juba, South Sudan

The WHO Country Representative Dr Abdi Aden Mohamed, the Minister of Health, Dr Riek Gai Kok together with a team from WHO and central Ministry of Health on Thursday 03 July 2014, visited State capital Torit in Eastern Equatoria State to assess the cholera situation in the state.

Celestina Poni, a 29-year-old mother of five is glad to be alive, after suffering from a severe bout of cholera which she believes almost killed her.

“I never thought I would be alive, talking and laughing like this,” Celestina Poni confesses, adding that she appreciates the support that she received from the hospital. 

Celestina lives in an area called Lulubo, in Gumbo village, Juba County, in Central Equatoria State, which is among the areas affected by the current cholera outbreak in South Sudan.

On 12 July 2014, a new hospital Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital was officially opened in Rumbek, Lakes State by his Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan as part of the Government initiative to improve maternal health services in the country.

15 July 2014 – Ten months after starting work in Wau Hospital, a new maternity theatre and waiting home have officially been opened by His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit. The new maternity theatre and waiting home, built by the World Health Organization with funds from the Canadian International Development Agency, now called DFATD. The waiting home is an 18-bed facility with a kitchen extension to support mothers as they wait for their time of delivery.

Today marks another significant milestone in the fight against vaccine preventable diseases in South Sudan as the country launches the pentavalent vaccine.  The launch ceremony took place at the El Sabah Children Hospital. High-level government officials including the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Hon. Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, the state Minister of Health Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Baya and the Deputy Governor for Central Equatoria State, Hon. Hakim Deng Dugue and international dignitaries, including GAVI and UN agencies Representatives attended the launch.