South Sudan begins cholera preventive vaccination

Tapeng Michael Ohure

Plans to vaccinate communities in 20 counties in South Sudan as a preventive measure against cholera are complete and the actual innoculation is set to commence on January 25, the Director General for Emergency Preparedness and Preventive Health Services, Dr. John Rumunu said.According to the Ministry of Health, there is no cholera in the country but an assessment has been conducted and 20 counties were found to be potentially at risk.As the worst floods since the 1960’s cede in South Sudan, the country is poised to ensure an outbreak of the deadly waterborne disease is controlled or stopped forthwith.
The country intends to vaccinate 97 percent of the population between one year and above.”The training and other social mobilization has commenced, and the actual inoculation will start on the 25th of January in Rubkona and Bentiu Interally Displaced Camp,” Dr. Rumunu told Juba Echo by phone.”Planning for Rubkona and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Bentiu has already been completed. The teams on the ground are ready and they were joined by the ministry of health director for environmental and occupational health on Thursday,” he said.Among the counties that have been considered by the Ministry of Health as cholera hotspots are Juba, Awerial, Yirol East, Duk, Panyijar, Malakal, Malakal IDP Camp,  Kapoeta, Torit,  Kapoeta South, Kapoeta East, Tonj East, Ayod, Fashoda, and Bentiu IDP camp.