South Sudan News

Infectious diseases continue to pose a major public health threat in South Sudan. Adding to the chronic burden of disease, regular outbreaks further threaten people's health.

 In a conflict setting, WHO and partners are responding to multiple outbreaks including cholera, malaria, measles, suspected hemorrhagic fever, and kala-azar.

24 October 2016 - As part of the commemorations to mark the 71st anniversary of the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) in South Sudan joined the UN family to provide an integrated health services to the community and organize blood donation campaign in Nyakuron Cultural Center, Juba on 24 October 2016.

Held under the local theme “UN for the people of South Sudan”, the event shed light on the UN’s achievements at the humanitarian level and raises awareness of the efforts of UN family in South Sudan. 

Juba, 24 October 2016: To mark the World Polio Day, which also coincided with United Nations day, the WHO Country Office in South Sudan and the Ministry of Health organized a one day campaign to immunize children against the vaccine preventable disease. Polio eradication in South Sudan is a national emergency and has been a priority for WHO and partners.

9 November 2016, Juba, South Sudan - The Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Riek Gai Kok, the Undersecretary, Dr Makur Matur Kariom; and all the Directors General of the Ministry of Health paid a professional courtesy visit to the World Health Organization Country Office (WHO CO) in Juba South Sudan. This is the first ever visit by the Minister to the WHO CO.

November 2016 - The World Health Organization (WHO) delivered lifesaving supplies to assist thousands of women and children in Yei River State, one of South Sudan’s states most affected by conflict.

The lifesaving health supplies will benefit more than 30 000 people living in areas affected by conflict in parts of Logo and Kirkwa in Yei River State for the next three months. The supplies include 20 basic unit kits, 10 basic antimalarial kits, five supplementary antimalarial kits, one Diarrhea Disease kit and one Interagency Health Kit.

18 November 2016, Juba, South Sudan – Despite the ongoing violence sweeping much of the country, the third round of the National Immunization Days of 2016 campaign is being implemented across South Sudan to ensure the continuation of immunization activities targeting more than 3.5 million children aged 0 – 59 months.

November 2016 - In response to the poliomyelitis outbreak associated with type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) and ambiguous vaccine derived polio virus (aVDPVs)  identified in Unity state,  the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Ministry of Health and partners immunized over 155 000 migrant children under the age of 15 through special vaccination posts. Type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) and ambiguous vaccine derived polio virus (aVDPVs) was being detected in September 2014 and April 2015 respectively.

24 November 2016, Juba, South Sudan – Cholera continues to be a public health threat to children, young adults, and other vulnerable groups in South Sudan. The recurrent outbreaks since 2013 demonstrate the continued vulnerability of the population to the disease, which is preventable and treatable. Since 21 July 2016, more than 3 100 cholera cases and 44 deaths have been reported with a case fatality rate of 1.4%.

November 2016 - As part of its  priority areas to scale up the country’s mental health and psychosocial care as well as coordinate existing efforts for better mental healthcare and psychosocial support   for South Sudanese, WHO engaged in an extensive consultation with national and international partners to identify needs and priorities to protect and improve people's mental health and psychosocial well-being.

November 2016 - With the aim to improve access to safe essential medicines, WHO carried out an in-depth assessment and mapping of the country’s procurement and supply management system as well as the mechanisms for medicines procurement and distribution in public and private sectors.