Afrigather Juba, 30 April 2024 – This yr, because the world commemorates World Immunization Week from April 24 to April 30, South Sudan joins the worldwide group in celebrating the monumental fiftieth anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). This milestone highlights the transformative energy of vaccines, which have considerably decreased little one mortality charges globally. They result in elevated well being requirements by lowering or eradicating the prevalence of important illnesses, comparable to eradicating smallpox and lowering the wild poliovirus to 2 nations.
In 1974, solely 5% of the world’s kids had been vaccinated in opposition to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. That determine has elevated to almost 85% of youngsters worldwide and 73% in South Sudan at the moment.
Smallpox was eradicated some 5 years after the start of the EPI. Since then, the wild poliovirus has been geographically restricted to solely two nations, and the specter of a number of critical infectious childhood illnesses has additionally been lowered. By way of innovation and know-how, new vaccines, together with the malaria and COVID-19 vaccines, have been developed that may defend in opposition to much more illnesses at the moment.
This yr, World Immunization Week celebrates and acknowledges our collective efforts to avoid wasting and enhance numerous lives from vaccine-preventable illnesses and underscores that immunization for all is humanly attainable!
“We should improve vaccination protection to safeguard kids in opposition to vaccine-preventable illnesses,” stated Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Well being. “Sadly, routine vaccination protection in opposition to these illnesses stays low in South Sudan, leaving many kids weak to childhood sicknesses. Due to this fact, the importance of vaccination campaigns can’t be overstated.”
Over the previous 5 years, vaccination charges amongst infants have considerably improved. Based on the World Well being Group (WHO) and UNICEF’s estimates of nationwide immunization protection (WUENIC), the share of youngsters below one-year-old who obtained the third dose of the DPT vaccine—which protects in opposition to diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus—elevated from 59% in 2018 to 73% in 2022.
Given the difficult context of the nation and the suboptimal immunization protection, there have been outbreaks of yellow fever, measles, and vaccine-derived poliovirus circumstances. These have been promptly responded to this yr by the Ministry of Well being, offering alternatives to 465 798 individuals 9 months- 60 years in 5 affected counties in WES to be vaccinated with yellow fever vaccine, 115 981 kids below 15 years reached with measles vaccine in three counties and three,083,515 kids below 5 nationwide vaccinated with the novel oral polio vaccine sort 2 (nOPV2).
“Vaccines save lives. WHO works with nations throughout the globe to lift consciousness of the worth of vaccines and immunization. It ensures that governments get hold of the mandatory steering and technical assist to implement high-quality immunization programmes. They’ve been confirmed to scale back sickness and deaths amongst kids within the African Area. For 50 years, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has centered on defending kids from illnesses like tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and measles. At present, this quantity has grown to 13 universally advisable vaccines throughout the life course. Vaccines forestall critical illnesses and save lives,” stated Dr Humphrey Karamagi, the WHO Consultant for South Sudan.
Celebrating Immunization Week, Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF Consultant in South Sudan, stated, “Immunization is not only a medical achievement; it is a testomony to our shared dedication to safeguarding lives and making certain a more healthy future for all. As we mark 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, allow us to renew our dedication to reaching each little one, each household, and each group with the life-saving safety of vaccines. Collectively, we show that immunization for all is not only a purpose; it is our collective obligation, and it is humanly attainable.”
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Sudan engaged in vigorous efforts to deploy the Covid-19 vaccine. Over 5 million individuals aged 18 and above, accounting for 82% of the goal, have been vaccinated with the first sequence, and efforts are being made to combine the vaccine into the routine immunization and first healthcare system.
South Sudan joins the world in celebrating the 50 years of the Expanded Program on
Immunization and, with its companions, reaffirms its unwavering dedication to making sure equitable immunization providers attain each nook of the nation to go away nobody behind.
With the assist of Gavi, the vaccine alliance, the nation is ready to introduce the malaria vaccine into its routine immunization system by July 2024. By 2025, Gavi can be supporting the introduction of the Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and Rota Virus vaccine (RVV) into the immunization system within the nation to guard kids in opposition to Pneumonia, and diarrhea might be launched.
South Sudan urges all communities, conventional and non secular leaders and establishments, and certainly nationwide and worldwide companions to proceed to assist the drive to extend immunization protection within the nation and prolong vaccination to the second yr of life as immunization stays probably the most cost-effective public well being intervention to stop illnesses.
Concerning the Ministry of Well being of South Sudan: The Ministry of Well being of South Sudan is devoted to selling the well being and well-being of the nation’s inhabitants by way of complete healthcare initiatives, illness prevention applications, and capacity-building efforts. With a steadfast dedication to reaching common well being protection and combating infectious illnesses, the Ministry collaborates intently with nationwide and worldwide companions to deal with the well being challenges going through South Sudan.
About UNICEF: UNICEF works in over 190 nations and territories to avoid wasting kids’s lives, defend their rights, and assist them fulfill their potential from early childhood by way of adolescence. Because the world’s main group for kids, UNICEF tirelessly reaches probably the most weak and marginalized kids, offering well being care, vitamin, schooling, and safety providers that rework lives and construct brighter futures.
Concerning the World Well being Group (WHO): Based in 1948, WHO is the United Nations company that connects nations, companions and folks to advertise well being, preserve the world secure and serve the weak – so everybody, in all places can attain the very best stage of well being. WHO leads world efforts to develop common well being protection. We direct and coordinate the world’s response to well being emergencies. And we promote more healthy lives – from being pregnant care by way of previous age. Our Triple Billion targets define an bold plan for the world to attain good well being for all utilizing science-based insurance policies and programmes.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ministry of Well being: Mary Denis Obat, Director of Well being Training and Promotion, mobat43 [at] gmail.com
WHO: Jemila M. Ebrahim, Communication Officer, ebrahimj [at] who.int
UNICEF: Ms. Alexandra Correia Reis, Chief of Communications, acorreiareis [at] unicef.org
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