South Soudan can be certified as a polio free country by June 2012 if the ongoing national immunization drive continue to bear positive results.
This is the view of Ahmed Haji Abshir, a World Health Organization Medical officer in Lakes State while launching this year’s third polio campaign that started on Tuesday, Good News Radio reported.He said the last case of polio in South Sudan was reported in June 2009.
Dr. Haji added that this is a clear indication of the commitment of the national ministry of health and its partners to eradicate polio from South Sudan as part of the global drive to suppress the virus worldwide.
Dr. Haji said this is the third polio campaign this year and it targets some 281 thousand children under five in Lakes State.
He added that the first and second rounds of vaccinations conducted in February and March this year reached coverage of 95 and 96 percent, respectively.
Over 2000 volunteers and health workers are currently carrying out a door to door campaign in the state.
Dr. Haji announced that the fourth round of the national campaign against polio is expected to take place in mid-December.