WHO to launch Measles vaccination campaign in Sudan

May 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The World Health Organization(WHO) has announced plans to launch a campaign to eradicate Measles on the 22nd of May in several states including the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

The campaign targets more than 4 million children in six Sudanese states including the children from the South Sudan who reside within the local communities in neighbouring states and the refugee camps.

In a press release on Thursday, WHO said the campaign targets the children aged 6 months to 15 years old in fulfilment of previous campaigns jointly made by the organization and the Sudanese Health Ministry in 10 states last year through which more than 9 million children were vaccinated.

“The campaign in West Kordofan state has been completed in mid of May while the vaccination will continue in the states of Blue Nile, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, White Nile and Sinnar from the 22nd to 30th of May , 2016”, WHO stated.

However, the vaccination campaign would not reach the conflict affected areas of the Blue Nile and South Kordofan due to the continuation of armed clashes there between the government and SPLM-N rebels.

The warring parties have failed to reach an agreement to stop the fighting for humanitarian purposes and to carry out Polio and Measles vaccination campaigns, despite several attempts by the UN agencies and the African Union.

The Sudanese government has been fighting the SPLM-N in the Nuba Mountains area of South Kordofan state since June 2011and the Blue Nile state since September 2011.

The WHO has hired 11 technical staff to support and supervise the implementation of the campaign, so that the goals and expected results are met.

(ST)