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Jan 4, Saturday 2025 South Sudan: South Sudan has begun a mass inoculation campaign against cholera vaccines targeting to vaccinate at least 9 million people. This targets more than 80% of the population. More than 1.1 million doses of oral cholera vaccine have arrived in the capital, Juba, and will be dispatched next week to hot spot areas in the town of Bentiu. The mass vaccination exercise faces numerous challenges, including a lack of access to the areas dealing with the worst cholera outbreaks.
South Sudan’s Ministry of Health reported last week that 199 people have died of cholera, with 13,00 more diagnosed as of 29 December 2024 with the bacteria. A total of 1,178 suspected and confirmed Cholera cases are reported from 17 counties (Juba, Magwi, Ayod, Canal Pigi, Fangak, Awaeil Centre, Aweil East, Aweil North, Aweil South, Aweil West, Rubkona, Fashoda, Maban, Malakal, Panyikang, Renk and Ulang) and 13 dead among these counties. Dr. Gabriel Bourn Tap, an immunization officer at UNICEF in South Sudan said that they received some vaccines before only that they were not enough, because these vaccines are not manufactured and are put in one place already.
The first case was reported on September 23 in Renk, northeast of the capital. As the country prepares to roll out a mass vaccination exercise it faces some hurdles. The government and humanitarian organizations are working to vaccinate vulnerable populations across the country like women children and mothers against cholera. Cholera treatment centers, units, and oral rehydration points have been set up in several states. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that South Sudan requires $32 million to resist the first three months of the emergency response to the cholera outbreak.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is set to expire in September 2025 and the U.S. Congress faces several challenges. As of January 3, 2025, the US Congress is to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). US Congress’s renewal of AGOA may have implications for trade and economic relationships with African countries including South Sudan. International partners, such as the US Embassy, UNICEF, MSF, and WHO are providing support to fight cholera in South Sudan, including emergency water, sanitation, medical care, hygiene, and vaccination campaigns.
Symptoms of cholera in South Sudan include severe diarrhea which can result in swift dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps and fever. These symptoms are likely to get fatal if left untreated. Efforts from International Medical Corps and other organizations aim to mitigate the cholera outbreak in South Sudan. Keep Reading Questiqa World for more updates.