Juba, South Sudan – South Sudan has received over 1.1 million oral cholera vaccine doses to launch a campaign aimed at vaccinating more than 80% of its population. However, the effort faces challenges like poor access to areas with the worst outbreaks.

Health workers plan to vaccinate around 9 million people, focusing on children and mothers. The vaccines, which arrived in Juba, will be sent to hotspots like Bentiu next week. The Ministry of Health recently reported 199 deaths and 13,000 cholera cases.

Dr. Gabriel Boum Tap, a UNICEF immunization officer, noted that previous vaccine supplies were insufficient due to limited production and distribution challenges. Cholera cases have been recorded in 29 of South Sudan's 79 counties, with Bentiu, Renk, and Juba being the hardest hit. The first case was reported on September 23 in Renk.

The vaccination campaign faces difficulties, including limited access to healthcare facilities. Thinjin Khoat, a cholera survivor, described witnessing a child die from dehydration because health workers couldn't provide treatment in time. Many communities struggle to access care due to flooding and security concerns, especially in Bentiu.

Cholera, caused by consuming contaminated food or water, can kill within hours if untreated. According to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), poor living conditions in South Sudan have worsened the outbreak. Stephanie Ngai, an MSF coordinator in Bentiu, said the outbreak quickly overwhelmed local response systems, which lack sufficient funding and coordination.

The vaccination campaign, supported by partners like MSF and the World Health Organization (WHO), is set to begin on Monday. In Rubkona, WHO will focus on hard-to-reach areas affected by flooding, while MSF will cover camps and towns nearby. The campaign targets children aged one and above.

WHO estimates that cholera kills 143,000 people globally each year out of about 4 million cases.

Source: VOANEWS