UNICEF airlifts life-saving vaccines to combat disease outbreaks in Sudan

Moatinoon
An aircraft chartered by UNICEF carrying 1.4 million doses of oral cholera vaccines arrived in Port Sudan this morning to strengthen efforts to protect children from the current cholera outbreak.

Since the beginning of the outbreak of cholera in the Sudan in July, more than 18 thousand cases of the disease and nearly 550 deaths have been reported in 10 states. The new vaccine doses are in addition to the 4,000 vaccines provided by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) to the Sudan last month and will be used for ongoing vaccination campaigns.

These campaigns aim to vaccinate 1.81 million people against cholera in the worst-affected states, namely El Gedaref, Kassala and the River Nile.

In addition to cholera, simultaneous epidemics of other diseases - such as dengue, malaria and measles - are spreading in at least 12 of Sudans 18 states. Earlier this week, UNICEF delivered nearly 190 thousand doses of malaria vaccines to the country to help protect children from malaria.

Sheldon Yat, UNICEFs representative in the Sudan, said: "In the context of war, displacement and famine, the impact of these epidemics may be catastrophic for children. The delivery of vaccines to the health authorities of the Sudan and to the hands of the communities most at risk is essential to stop the spread of these deadly diseases ".

Persistent outbreaks are pushing the Sudans already fragile health-care system to a breaking point and increasing weaknesses in sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. To intensify its efforts to prevent famine and disease outbreaks in the next six months, UNICEF appeals for 40 million in assistance in the affected areas.