National Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF, WHO and partners is expected to conduct a countrywide measles follow- up campaign starting on 4 February 2020.
In a statement seen by CRN, the campaign aims at vaccinating 2.5 million children from 6 months to about five years old against measles.
In addition to the vaccination, children will receive deworming tablets and vitamin A supplementation as vaccination is essential to saving children’s lives, reads part of the statement.
It adds that as South Sudan is still battling an unprecedented outbreak of measles, a follow-up campaign is conducted across the country.
The first phase, covering 70 percent of the counties is starting 4th February and the second phase on 10th March which is expected to end on 17 March 2020.
Last month, the Director for Chukudum Hospital of Kapoeta State said cases of measles were on rise in the area, despite of the vaccination launched in December in measles’ affected areas.
Dr. Dominic Cypriano said the hospital was receiving about five and above cases of measles per day.
Measles is a highly infectious disease spread mainly through cough and sneezing, causing fever, runny nose, red eyes and rashes.
South Sudan is among the countries experiencing an upsurge of measles cases.