Polio Immunization Campaign Launched In Ikwoto A hectic immunization campaign against Polio is now in progress in Ikwoto County, Eastern Equatoria State, after two cases were reported in the region last month. 06 October 2013
*By Peter Lokale Nakimangole* *TORIT, 06 October 2013 [Gurtong] –*The state health Minister, Dr. Margaret Itto Leonardo believes the launched efforts will exterminate the attempting rising Polio virus in the region as a Medical Team comprising of the state level and County Health Department of Ikwoto are presently getting on the campaign against the Polio Virus. She discloses that the campaign includes surrounding neighbourhoods notably Budi Communities and others. The National Health Ministry announced an outbreak of polio in South Sudan with the new development being subsequently treated as a national public health emergency. The ministry is determined to stop its spread further as the Government of South Sudan is treating the polio outbreak with utmost priority. During this time, all partners are encouraged to actively engage with county, state, and national counterparts in planning and implementation of response campaigns. Three children have been confirmed with the infection; two in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and another in Eastern Equatoria State. Two girls, aged two and eight, living in Aweil South county, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and a two year-old girl in Ikotos county, Eastern Equatoria State, were confirmed on September 26 as having polio. The status of the three girls is being followed closely. The cases were confirmed by the Kenya Medical Research Institute in Nairobi. South Sudan had been polio-free since June 2009. Since the polio outbreak in Somalia was confirmed in May, quickly followed by its spread to Kenya and Ethiopia, medical authorities across South Sudan have been on high alert to look for any possible cases in this country. The Ministry of Health and its partners conducted additional polio vaccination campaigns in August in the States considered most at risk from the outbreak in the affected countries on its borders. Those States were Upper Nile, Jonglei, Eastern Equatoria and Central Equatoria. Pariang County in Unity State was also included in that vaccination campaign. Immediately following the confirmation of the three polio cases, the Government and partners responded with emergency vaccinations in the areas where the virus was detected. The emergency “mop-up” campaign, in Aweil South County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, and Gogrial West County in Warrap State and Ikotos and Budi counties in Eastern Equatoria State will continue. This “mop-up” campaign is designed to stop the spread of the virus quickly. Additional campaigns will be held in every State in the country in October, November and December. This will be an ongoing process to ensure children in South Sudan are protected from polio. The Government of South Sudan is also continuing to coordinate with neighbouring countries in polio eradication efforts. Posted in: Home<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx>, Governance<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/6/Governance.aspx>, Health<http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/7/Health.aspx> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14opri4Nr0399z%3DSJvt9OkZCu8nqzyqT%2BHgFjK%3D6MrUH_Gw%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
