Mass Polio immunisation campaign kicks-off in Wau

November 13, 2015 (WAU) – The health minister in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, Isaac Clerto has announced the commencement of mass polio immunisation campaign.

“We as government of South Sudan have recognised that since 2009, Polio case has been reported but the coverage is still a challenge [and] that is why we are continuing with the campaign and this the third,” said Clerto.

The campaign started on 14 November and will go till 17.

“We were suppose to start a week earlier but because the delay of vaccines we shifted it to one week. Vaccines have now arrived and these include the ones for counties as immunisation starts tomorrow,” he said.

Clerto, however, urged parents to cooperate with health officials during the exercise.

“What we need is cooperation among the parents to our staff. Even though your child is sick, he or she should be vaccinated because this vaccination gives more immunity to the child,” stressed the minister.

South Sudan has been polio-free since 2009. In 2013, however, health officials declared a national emergency after positive test results were discovered and launched emergency vaccination campaigns in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria states.

(ST)