South Sudan commenced implementation of integrated Measles, Polio vaccination and vitamin-A supplementation campaign on 23 April 2014 targeting 2.4 million children below five years. The campaign will be implemented in seven of the country’s ten states to administer measles vaccines and vitamin A capsule to children aged 6-59 months and Oral Polio vaccine to children aged 0-59 months. 

The campaign was launched in Juba by Dr Martin Elia Lomro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs in a function that was attended by high level participation of government functionaries, local and international partners including the Country Representatives and staffs of WHO and UNICEF, Rotary Internationals, health workers and community members. Launching the campaign, Dr Lomro commended partners including the UN and Rotary International for their continued support to the country in ensuring that child survival is attained.

Statements of commitments were delivered by WHO and UNICEF Representatives. Delivering his statement, Dr Abdi Aden Mohamed, Representative of WHO in South Sudan reminded the gathering of the gains the world has made in the fight against polio and the need to maintain such gains. He encouraged health workers to dedicate their services during the seven day campaign by ensuring that every child is reached with the interventions to protect them from lifelong disability, disease or death. He also called for strengthening of the routine immunization system in enhancing the quality of immunization and increased surveillance activities for early detection of measles, polio and other priority diseases.

The last case of polio was reported in South Sudan in 2009. However, the country is conducting the mass polio immunization campaigns targeting children in all communities and settlements in the seven states in order to interrupt circulation and transmission of polio. The incidence of measles still remains a challenge in the country particularly among displaced communities.