Bahr el Ghazel leads in COVID-19 vaccination campaign

By Simon Deng

The two States of Northern Bahr el Ghazel and Western Bahr el Ghazel are leading in the inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines, Sacha Bootsma, the Incident Manager for the World Health Organization in South Sudan, said.

“Northern Bahr el Ghazel leads with 5.6 percent followed by Western Bahr el Ghazel with 4.1 percent, that is a thing to do with effective implementing partners working proactively with county health directors,” Bootsma told reporters in Juba on Sunday.

“Having effective vaccinators and social mobilisers to identify where there are populations in need and also collaboration with local authorities and effective engagement with community leaders has been able to identify areas within the counties where people are eager to get vaccinated,” she said.

Bootsma said the vaccination has been roled out in 76 counties, but that Baliet Panyikang, Korfulus and Ayod in Upper Nile and Jonglei state respectively missed out due to insecurity and flooding.

“277,104 individuals are fully vaccinated with 88.9 percent health care workers vaccinated, making 2 percent of the total population and 4.5 percent of target population,” she said.

According to John Rumunu, the COVID-19 Incident Manager at the Ministry of Health, said the infection from the virus is slowing but warned that vaccination and public health social measures are still needed to curb the spread. 

South Sudan registered 8 new cases on Saturday bringing the total cumulative to 16,849.

Cumulative recovery stands at 13,07.

There have been 137 death cumulatively.