South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
The ministry of health together with the Gavi, Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund on Tuesday launched malaria vaccination campaign that will cover 28 counties in six States.
The ministry of health aims to vaccinate approximately 265,897 children in the first round of immunization.
Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap, and Central Equatoria, Bor County in Jonglei State and Eastern Equatoria State are some of the areas with the highest malaria incidence the country.
Malaria kills 18 people on daily basis in South Sudan making it one of the countries with the highest malaria incidence in the region and in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The roll out of the R21 malaria vaccine will not only positively impact livelihoods of people in these targeted places, but will also contribute to reducing poverty at the household level.
Malaria is among the major drivers of poverty at household level in Sub-Saharan Africa, therefore the vaccination campaign will help in long-run to boost immunity among children under-five years of age.
The ministry of health and partners need to be hugely commended for availing this vaccine that will impact thousands of households across the country.
