Measles kills four and affect 91 children in Unity state

By Bonifacio Taban Kuich

January 18, 2011 (BENTIU) – A breakout of measles in Unity state has affected 95 people, killing four of them according to health officials. The four killed where from Mayom county, which had further cases 79 affected. Four cases each have been reported in Leer, Mayiandit and Rubkotna counties.

The director general of the state ministry of health, Dr Manong Thot Teny said that the spread of the disease had been caused by returnee children from north Sudan who had not been vaccinated before they arrived in the state.

Teny said that they had invited the government of South Sudan earlier to witness the health situation of returnees.

Officials say they are carrying out an awareness and vaccination campaign to address the issue.

In late last two months of 2010 over 55,000 people returned to south Sudan ahead of the region’s recently completed independence referendum.

Teny said that the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS)need to consider the health status of returnees.

“We in Unity State, have invited their partnership especially the World Health Organization, UNICEF and others international organizations to extended their assistant in the entire ten states of South Sudan particularly Unity State”.

Unity state has seen a high number of returnees and more are expected, with results from the referendum vote expected in early February.

Earlier this month the US envoy to Sudan Scott Gration promised to build School, health services facilities by making partnerships with both state and regional government in order to bring infrastructure to the underdeveloped region.

(ST)