Cholera vaccination starts in South Sudan’s Unity State

By Chondok Stephen Magei

Cholera vaccination targeting at least 20 counties in South Sudan has started in Unity State, one of the regions most ravaged by floods.

Health partners including World Health Organization flanked Unity State Ministry of Health in launching the campaign in the capital Bentiu on Tuesday.

“Cholera vaccine is safe for all above one year of age including pregnant women and the vaccinators will move house to house vaccinating people with one dose of cholera vaccine,” the acting State Minister of Health, Tot Jokchieng said at the launch.

Jokchieng said the oral cholera vaccination will be provided for free.

The World Health Organization EPI manager, Dr. Simon John Deng said the does are enough for 202,627 people.

“This first dose vaccine will cover 202,627 people and we expect second dose after this vaccine, just allow vaccinators to vaccinate children,” Deng said.

The vaccines will be transported to various locations across the State by IOM.

The agency’s health programme coordinator, Mary Auma urged the people to embrace the exercise.