Sudan has been declared Polio free, two years after a confirmed outbreak triggered by the importation of Polio virus type 2 cases from neighbouring Chad.
In 2020, as the country’s health system struggled to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it faced yet another challenge – a confirmed Polio outbreak, that affected 58 children.
According to UNICEF’s Health Officer, Khattab Obaid, the Polio type 2 virus is the only virus that has been declared eradicated globally, therefore its reoccurrence presented a big challenge and was a risk to the children in Sudan.
Sudan has been declared Polio free, two years after a confirmed outbreak triggered by the importation of Polio virus type 2 cases from neighbouring Chad.
In 2020, as the country’s health system struggled to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it faced yet another challenge – a confirmed Polio outbreak, that affected 58 children.
According to UNICEF’s Health Officer, Khattab Obaid, the Polio type 2 virus is the only virus that has been declared eradicated globally, therefore its reoccurrence presented a big challenge and was a risk to the children in Sudan.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the two campaigns yielded enormous results that ensured no secondary cases and establishment of transmission were registered in the country.
The first campaign conducted in November 2020 reached 97 per cent of its target (8.2 million out of the 8.5 million target) while the second rounds conducted in January and February 2021 reached 100 per cent of the target population. During the two drives, about 7.6 million children were also reached with Vitamin A supplements.
UNICEF steps in to support UNICEF’s financial and technical support towards planning, coordination, and implementation of the two campaigns while investing in strengthening routine immunization that coincided with the economic and political crises among other setbacks greatly contributed to the achievements celebrated.
UNICEF worked on resource mobilization for the outbreak response and managed to reduce the funding gap by US$1 million, in addition ensuring availability and timely arrival, distribution and proper management of polio vaccines as well as management of used vials.
Stepping up community engagement and social mobilization efforts to reach every eligible child with Polio drops was critical. UNICEF support to the Federal Ministry of Health ensured communication plans and materials were developed and translated for use by community mobilizers that traversed the localities. Radio and television stations were awash with announcements about the outbreak, dangers of the disease and the need for parents and caregivers to participate in the vaccination drives to protect their children. Approaches to reach special groups like pastoralists, nomads, internally displaced people, refugees, were designed and implemented. No child was left behind.
Twenty-one months later, Sudan has not recorded any Polio case as the last reported case was in December 2020.
Outbreak Response Assessment team declares Sudan outbreak closed A year later, a team of experts embarked on a journey to confirm the outbreak closure. The team comprising of members from WHO, UNICEF and CDC constituted the Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) team which scrutinized the country’s response to the outbreak and identified areas of improvement. Starting with a virtual assessment that was followed by an in-country mission later in August 2022, the team declared the outbreak closed and commended the nation for well-coordinated and collaborative response activities, well-functioning surveillance system, successful immunization campaigns, among other areas.
What does this success mean for Sudan? ‘’Closure of the Polio outbreak is a remarkable achievement for the children of Sudan. Community engagement has been at the heart of efforts to turn vaccines into vaccinations for over 8 million children. This achievement is also a strong testament of the commitment of health workers, especially women, who continue to work selflessly and passionately to deliver. As we celebrate this achievement and the strong partnerships that made it possible, we must remain alert to protect Sudan from future outbreaks,” Mandeep O'Brien, UNICEF Representative in Sudan stressed.
The achievements celebrated highlight the country’s readiness to respond to outbreaks and underscore the ability of health workers and partners to respond timely to outbreaks.
Strategizing to sustain the gains registered As Sudan remains fragile amidst the current economic and political crises, the health system, and its ability to respond to outbreaks remains at risk. Besides the number of zero dose children post the COVID-19 pandemic on the rise and continued polio outbreaks in neighboring countries.
UNICEF is working with partners including GAVI, to support the nation strengthen its planning and coordination of routine immunization drives for children under five years. In addition, specific strategies are underway to map and reach zero dose children with lifesaving vaccines.
As the OBRA team concluded the mission they confirmed that the transmission of the Polio 2 was interrupted and declared the outbreak as over and closed, before recommending that the nation strengthens its surveillance systems, preparedness, and response and routine immunization drives to maintain the gains registered.