By Bosco Bush and Deng Athian
Ministry of Health and its partners have launched a cholera vaccination campaign in Bentiu, Unity State to combat the spread of the disease into most areas.
The campaign in Bentiu followed similar cholera campaigns launched in Renk, Malakal and Juba.
National Minister of Health, Yolanda Awel alongside Vice President for Services Cluster, Hussein Abdel-Bagi, officially launched the vaccination campaign address the health crisis.
In a statement, Minister Awel urged communities to adopt safe water and sanitation practices, while recognizing the phenomenal dedication of healthcare workers on the frontlines in the fight against cholera.
The Minister emphasized the urgent need for more healthcare resources and collaborative partnerships.
Meanwhile, Vice President, Abdel-Bagi unveiled the stark reality faced, revealing over “9,000 reported cholera cases and 180 deaths in Bentiu” alone, highlighting that these figures represent 51% of the national cholera death toll.
He stressed the critical necessity for clean water access, sanitation improvements, and overall healthcare service enhancement. Abdel-Bagi also warned against relying on dangerous homemade remedies.
“Our collaborative efforts with organizations like WHO, UNICEF, and MSF are essential in deploying rapid response teams, setting up cholera treatment centres, and promoting crucial hygiene practices,” he stated.
The Vice President called for increased funding and support for sustainable, community-led solutions, adding that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to tackling this outbreak and building a stronger, more resilient health system for the future.
Last year, following the declaration of a cholera outbreak in South Sudan, the Ministry of Health secured over 282 153 doses of oral cholera vaccine to cover Cholera transmission hotspots.
The vaccine was acquired with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), in response to cholera outbreaks in the country.
International Coordinating Group (ICG), which coordinates and manages global stockpiles for countries during outbreaks, supplied the Oral cholera vaccine (OCV).
These vaccines will be used to implement a two-dose mass vaccination campaign in the hotspot zones Renk and Malakal Counties of Upper Nile State. It would also be shipped to support the response efforts in other affected locations.
This effort is part of a comprehensive prevention and response strategy aimed at addressing cholera, a severe and preventable diarrheal disease, and safeguarding the health of vulnerable communities.
Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health for South Sudan, emphasized that “cholera prevention is a priority in areas that have been prioritized for multi-sectoral intervention.”
The OCV campaigns are intended to protect vulnerable populations and serve as a foundational step toward implementing sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions.
The cholera outbreak has spread rapidly with more than 13,206 cases recorded and 199 deaths reported as of December 29.