Health authorities in Yei River County in Central Equatoria State on Monday launched a polio vaccination campaign in Yei Town Payam targeting children under five.
Officials from the national and state health ministries urged parents and caregivers to ensure all eligible children receive the vaccine to protect them against the potentially crippling disease.
Isaac Ladu from the National Ministry of Health said the campaign aims to keep South Sudan free from polio despite reported cases in the Pibor Administrative Area.
“This campaign aims to declare South Sudan free from the polio virus because we do not want disability in our community. Once someone is disabled, he may not be able to help himself, and the Ministry of Health reminds parents to take their children for routine immunisation,” he said. “Most of the cases found the Pibor Administrative Area where from those areas where immunisation turnout for children is very low.”
For his part, Charles William from the Central Equatoria State Ministry of Health urged parents not to miss the vaccination exercise, warning that polio can cause permanent paralysis.
“As you have heard, this sickness is very dangerous. If a child is disabled, you will be the one to carry them around,” he stated. “Vaccination of children is important because the health ministry can not bring vaccines that are bad for its people. The government brings something that can protect the lives of children.”
Meanwhile, Yobu Susan, a World Health Organization field supervisor, called on caregivers to vaccinate all eligible children, including newborn babies, to ensure no child is left behind.
“These vaccinators move from home to home, in schools, and places where there are gatherings,” she said. “Let every child be vaccinated, and we are starting from 0-5 years, including newborn babies.”
Agnes Nyoka, a representative from South Sudan Health Association (SSUHA), reaffirmed their commitment to supporting health programmes in Yei.
“As SSUHA, our job is to implement this campaign because the government gives us all these things for free,” she stated.
On his part, James Tambura from the Yei County Health Department also urged parents and caregivers to ensure all children aged zero to five years receive the polio vaccine.
“This campaign is targeting all children starting from 0 to 5 years in the county,” he said. “So, all mothers should ensure all children in that bracket get vaccinated because it is free of charge.”
Last week, South Sudan launched its fourth round of a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting 3.47 million children using the novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2.
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