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UN conducts measles vaccination campaigns in South Sudan

Xinhua, May 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

The UN migration agency (IOM) said Friday it has teamed up with international health agencies to conduct vaccination campaigns in South Sudan to combat measles in South Sudan.

The International Organization for Migration launched a vaccination campaign for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and children under five living in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites in Bentiu and Malakal and additional campaigns are in progress.

"The campaigns vaccinated nearly 45,900 children living in both sites in Bentiu and 7,300 children in Malakal, reaching over 90 percent of the target group," IOM said in a statement issued in Juba.

The campaigns which follows several suspected cases of measles in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites in Bentiu and Malakal were implemented in collaboration with International Medical Corps, International Rescue Committee, Medecins Sans Frontieres, UNICEF, WHO and World Relief, vaccinating 919 children against the disease in Malakal town.

IOM Migration Health Emergency Coordinator Dr. Andrew Mbala said the success of these campaigns is due to intensive social mobilization, effective collaboration and leadership of the Health Cluster.

"But routine immunizations should be strengthened both within and outside of PoC sites to reduce the likelihood of further measles cases, especially among children," Mbala said.

To date in 2016, 1,321 suspected measles cases have been reported by the Health Cluster and South Sudan Ministry of Health.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can become life threatening if complications, such as pneumonia, arise.

Children and displaced populations living in crowded areas are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks of measles and other contagious diseases.

IOM said its health rapid response team is currently on the ground in Yirol East and West counties to provide measles vaccines for another 46,900 children under five.

Health actors have reported 31 suspected measles cases in the two counties this year. Endit