By James Innocent
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has launched a malaria vaccination campaign at Yei River County.
The event, which drew over 200 participants, including local authorities, medical workers, and mothers.
Ayub Taban, working for the WHO, stated that the malaria vaccination program has been rolled out nationwide, and Yei was selected as one of the nine counties in South Sudan to launch the campaign.
“We are working to combat malaria in South Sudan because it is one of the leading causes of death for children under five. According to data, there are over 2.8 million children affected by malaria in the country, and at least one person dies of the disease every day, with the Ministry of Health reporting 60% of cases,” he explained.
South Sudan is one of the countries most affected by malaria in Africa, and Taban emphasized the importance of the vaccine, which is administered to children between 5 and 18 months old.
He urged mothers to bring their children to the nearest hospital for vaccination, stating that it is a simple way to control the disease.
Taban called on the government and other partners to support the vaccination campaign, as it signifies a step towards eliminating malaria in the country.
For his part, Michael Lugala, the County Medical Director, advised the people of Yei to disregard rumours about the vaccine, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many were hesitant to receive vaccinations.
He emphasized the need for children to be vaccinated, as the cases of malaria are increasing during the rainy season.
Gale Ezibon Simon, the Deputy Executive Director of Yei River County, commended the WHO for their efforts in combating malaria through vaccination in Yei, as it will prevent children from contracting the disease.
The official stated that the vaccine has been thoroughly tested by the Ministry of Health and the WHO, and there is no reason for parents to fear the vaccination.
He noted that the hospital has registered over 6,860 cases of malaria.
Johnson Poru Hillary, the youth representative of Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, praised the Ministry of Health for providing the vaccination as a preventive measure against malaria, as it will reduce the cost of treatment in the community.
Charles Ngota Clement, a resident, expressed his happiness at the launch of the campaign, stating that many children die of malaria every day, and he hopes the vaccination will help address this issue.