Date Published:
2 November 2006 |
Sudan polio immunization campaign to protect nearly eight million children
An estimated 7.8 million children across Sudan will be targeted in the next
round of polio immunization, which starts on Sunday. Led by the Ministries
of Health in both North and Southern Sudan, and backed by UNICEF, WHO and other
partners, the National Immunization Days aim to ensure that Sudan remains polio-free
in 2006. However organizers cautioned that the campaign’s success will
depend upon guaranteed access for health workers.
In face of the challenges, UNICEF Representative Ted Chaiban noted the contribution
being made by Sudan to global development targets.
“ The campaign against
polio is vital to the ongoing development of Sudan, but also to global efforts
to eradicate polio. The commitment being shown by health officials, partner
organizations and local volunteers is truly heartening,” he said.
40,000 vaccinators will travel from house to house in every community of the
country during the three-day campaign, administering both the oral polio vaccine
to all children under the age of five, and Vitamin A supplements to 4.9 million
children aged six months to five years. Vitamin A is known to increase children’s
resistance to disease and prevent blindness, critical in a country with the
49th highest under-5 mortality rate in the world. In Southern Sudan, vaccinators
will also undertake guinea-worm surveillance.
Chaiban urged communities to ensure the safety of vaccinators in areas of
the country still affected by fighting, saying that:
“ safeguarding a
child’s
health rises above any political differences that may exist in communities.
It is imperative that where fighting continues, vaccinators and monitors are
guaranteed safe access, and parents are able to present their children for
vaccination. We rely upon all those still involved in conflict in Sudan to
provide those guarantees.”
The polio vaccine itself is administered through two small drops into a child’s
mouth, making it one of the easiest immunization processes available. Simple
training, supported by UNICEF and WHO, is all that is required to enable a
local volunteer to undertake vaccinations.
Earlier smaller polio immunization campaigns in Sudan during 2006 have resulted
in 1.3 million children being successfully vaccinated in Darfur. No polio cases
have been reported anywhere in Sudan since June 2005; in 2004 Sudan was close
to being declared polio-free. With many children in hard to reach areas, and
the risks of cross-border transmission due to population displacement, the
National Immunization Day campaigns are a critical addition to routine immunization
efforts, especially as health infrastructures are still weakened in many parts
of the country.
About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world’s leader for children, working
on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and
thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest
provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health
and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys
and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and
AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals,
businesses, foundations and governments.
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