Polio campaign in Sudan

8.1 million children to be vaccinated (in Arabic PDF)

KHARTOUM, 3 April 2006 – As part of the global initiative to eradicate polio, the Sudanese Federal Ministry of Health of the Government of National Unity and Ministry of Health of the Government of Southern Sudan, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other partner organizations, launched the second round of the national polio immunization campaign, 03 to 06 April 2006.

Over 50,000 health care workers, volunteers and community health workers have been mobilized for the campaign which targets the estimated 8.1 million children under five years of age in Sudan, particularly those living in the poorest communities or those intermittently cut off by conflict. These children are the key to stopping the spread of the disease.

Although the transmission of wild polio virus has apparently been interrupted in Sudan with no new cases of polio reported since June 2005, continued attention and vigilance is needed. Major population and cross-border movement could re-introduce the virus to Sudan. Access to all areas of Sudan, in particular to the children living in areas under conflict is vital to build population immunity. 

During the first round of the 2006 campaign, approximately 8 million children were immunized against polio. However, over 120,000 children in Darfur were not reached due to the insecurity in the region. This is of grave concern to Sudan.  If all the children of Sudan are not vaccinated, the virus may enter Darfur, Hamesh-koreb or in other areas where immunization levels are low causing the reintroduction of the polio virus to Sudan.

Ensuring the safety of vaccinators, supervisors and volunteers is the responsibility of every person in Sudan, including the armed groups and community leaders. 

Notes to editors

In 2006, UNICEF, WHO, Rotary International and the Centres for Disease Control, among other partners, are supporting the cost of vaccines, logistics, and social mobilization efforts in Sudan.

For further information, please contact:

WHO: Dr. Salah Haithami, WHO polio eradication coordinator, Khartoum: +249 912 308734; haithamis@sud.emro.who.int  
          Emma Fitzpatrick, WHO Public Information Officer; +249 912 167156; fitzpatricke@sud.emro.who.int 

UNICEF: Roshan Khadivi, UNICEF Khartoum: +249 912 77291; rkhadivi@unicef.org
              Bismarck Swangin, UNICEF Juba: +882 164 3339905; bswangin@unicef.org