Eastern Equatoria State launched a follow-up measles vaccination campaign Monday, aiming to immunize 378,546 children aged 6 to 59 months.
The weeklong campaign will not follow the usual house-to-house approach but will instead operate through designated health centers, according to the State Ministry of Health.
Dr. Amin Gordiano, the state’s acting health director general, said the vaccine is safe and has no side effects. He urged parents to bring their children to immunization centers and to report any suspected measles cases to prevent outbreaks.
The campaign is a joint effort between the National Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and other health partners.
Lelang Caesar Tobiolo, Torit County project coordinator for Health Link, called the initiative a “life-saving mission,” noting that measles remains a leading cause of child mortality despite the availability of effective vaccines, particularly in areas with limited health care access.
UNICEF health project coordinator Peter Simon Osuru said the agency would ensure safe storage of all vaccination materials.
Acting State Health Minister Margret Idwa Okuye assured that security measures were in place to reach every child, adding that Eastern Equatoria is safe for health services to operate at the grassroots level.