Additional effort comes in face of polio case reported in neighbouring Chad
Khartoum, 5 August 2007. An estimated 4.9 million children across the north of Sudan will be targeted in a special round of polio immunization starting on Monday 6 August. Led by the Ministry of Health and backed by UNICEF, WHO and other partners, the three day campaign to protect children against the virus comes in response to reports of polio being discovered in neighbouring Chad.
Speaking today, UNICEF Representative Ted Chaiban noted that Sudan had not reported any cases of polio itself since 2005. "In the last few years, incredible efforts in the face of many challenges have led us to a point where polio could soon be stamped out in Sudan," he said. "But because polio respects no borders, we have to ensure that when cases are found close to home, we redouble our efforts to protect children."
WHO Representative Dr Mohamed Aburrab underscores that surveillance is as important as immunization to the success of Sudan's polio eradication programme. He adds, "in order to eradicate polio, it is necessary to search out not only the polio cases, but also conditions that may resemble polio clinically." Since 2000, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and WHO have established an active and sensitive Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance system in Sudan.
Regular polio immunization campaigns have taken place throughout Sudan, even in conflict-affected Darfur where UNICEF, WHO and other agencies have managed to win the support of all partners to ensure safe access for vaccinators. However increased population displacement, porous borders with neighbouring countries, and continued insecurity being a threat to vaccination efforts, next week's campaign will remain a major logistical challenge. In addition, recent heavy rains and flooding in many parts of the north of Sudan implies some gaps in the latest campaign and children may be missed out in the non accessible areas. Therefore, plans are being developed to reach out to such areas using all available means. Such children missed out in the campaign will be reached at the first opportunity that allows an access to the missing areas.
The immunization drive will cover all 15 states in the north of Sudan, with planners hoping to reach at least 82 percent of children under the age of five. Tens of thousands of vaccinators will travel house to house, administering the oral polio vaccine.
The last three-day vaccination campaign took place in the end of April 2007 when more than 6 million children were reached. Annually, Sudan stages regular campaigns during the year, with vaccine provided by UNICEF and trainings for volunteer vaccinators and half of the operational costs for the campaign were supported by WHO. Vaccinators themselves are sourced through local State Ministries of Health, NGOs and from amongst local communities.
The polio eradication effort in Sudan is supported by a number of donors, including the CDC, Rotary International, USAID, DFID, Government of Japan, the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, amongst others.
Media contacts
UNICEF
Edward Carwardine
Senior Communication Officer
UNICEF Sudan
Mobile: +249 (0)912 177 291
Email: ecarwardine@unicef.org
WHO
Christina Banluta
Communications Officer
WHO Sudan
Mobile: +249 912 167 754
Email: banlutac@sud.emro.who.int