By Yien Gattuor
A mass measles vaccination campaign targeting returnee children has been launched in Rubkona and Koch Counties of Unity State, with an unspecified number of people expected to be vaccinated.
The campaign targets children between 5 months and 15 years, especially the returnees who recently fled the war in Sudan and escaped back to South Sudan.
The campaign is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children Fund (UNIECF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other UN agencies.
Speaking to the No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper on Sunday, the director General of the state ministry of health, Duol Biem, said the vaccination exercise commenced over the weekend in Rubkona and Kock counties, respectively.
” Health workers are now in the field, and it will take seven days, according to the population that needs to be vaccinated in Rubkona and Koch Counties.
A number of cases had already been confirmed in the area last week.
“There were cases of measles, and they are increasing in that part of Rioriak Payam and Nyeruop Port, along with some areas within Unity State,” Mr. Biem said.
He urged all returnees to ensure all their children are vaccinated.
Biem added that the campaign will be a continuous program, saying it will not stop because “our people (returnees) are arriving on a daily basis”.
“What we are doing is prevention, and this measles vaccination will take one week and end on June 31,” he said.
Last week, the Unity State Health Ministry reported 26 cases of measles in Rubkona town, Guit, and Mayom counties.
According to the World Health Organization, measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus and is normally passed from person to person through direct contact and through the air.
The virus infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. However, vaccinations have reduced the severity and number of deaths.