South Sudan’s Kiir endorses “Zero Malaria Campaign”

January 18, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Wednesday endorsed the ‘Zero Malaria Campaign”, an initiative of the Health ministry and its partners.

The anti-Malaria campaign in the country started in November last year.

“As part of his commitment to end malaria related deaths, the president signed on the new campaign banner under the theme; “Zero Malaria in South Sudan Starts with me” to create awareness and save vulnerable lives especially children under 5, pregnant women, elderly as well as those with underlying health conditions,” the presidency said in a statement.

The Health minister, Yolanda Awel Deng said there was a notable drop in COVID-19 cases, but urged the public to vaccinate against the pandemic.

Awel, also the Chairperson of Africa Ebola Task Force and Emergency Preparedness, reassured the nation that her ministry was well-prepared to prevent any potential Ebola outbreak within or in the neighboring countries.

She briefed the president on the general health situation in the country, including her recent visit to several states for a feasibility study and assessment of primary health care facilities that were destroyed by floods

The minister decried the impact created by withdrawal of Health Pooled Fund, the international partners that provided services to citizens since 2011.

Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are spread to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable.

According to the World Health body’s (WHO) latest world Malaria report, there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2021 compared to 245 million cases in 2020..

(ST)