By Lodu William Odiya
Central Equatoria state government has called for partners’ support to complete Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), storage building.
Speaking during an inauguration of the facility on Tuesday, Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel said with the economic situation his state is going through, the health minister would try to do what was unfinished.
“I will be waiting to hear from all of you, whoever wants to contribute, so that we advance this facility” he said.
According to Rabi, the facility was funded by German cooperation, through KFW which implemented the project.
He said the facility would address the major challenges of limited vaccine storage in the state, adding that the central government and the people of South Sudan will also benefit from it.
“The inauguration of the facility makes a significant milestone in improving public health infrastructure, ensuring safe and effective vaccine distribution and supporting national and global immunization goals” he emphasized.
Rabi highlighted that it was a landmark achievement by all the stakeholders in strengthening not only the immunization systems but also reinforce the commitment to safe-guarding public health through effective vaccination management and sustainability.
“This is going to be the responsibility of the state Ministry of Health and also the central Equatoria government. I know it is a challenge, but it is important for us to sustain this facility for generations to come” he stressed.
On her part, the Central Equatoria State Health Minister, Najwa Juma Mursal described vaccination as the main tool for primary prevention of diseases and one of the most effective public health measures available.
“We understand, South Sudan sterilizes towards strengthening the health system by improving the quality and coverage of immunization services” she said.
She stated that addressing the issue effectively is essential and the health system needed to be strengthened by improving the quality and coverage of immunization services.
Najwa said despite the set of efforts, Central Equatoria State faces systematic challenges that weaken the health infrastructure adding that it must cause effective public health tools and vaccine eradicate some diseases like smallpox, polio and measles outbreaks.
“I hope with this vaccine, we will manage to overcome most of the outbreaks and we will conduct our routine immunization in a proper manner” she emphasized.
She urged community leaders to combat misinformation and to encourage the vaccine uptake using this slogan immunization for all is humanly possible.