The UN World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Lakes Ministry of Health launched a polio vaccination campaign in state capital Rumbek yesterday.
The campaign aims to vaccinate all children under 5 years of age between 16 and 19 September, accorrding to director of polio eradication and immunization Simon Makoi Maker.
Lakes Ministry of Health director general Samuel Michael Mading urged people to allow their children to get free vaccination from polio.
He said polio is a dangerous disease that paralyzes young children, but the government of South Sudan is working hard to stop the disease.
Mading thanked WHO and UNICEF for providing the means to eradicate polio from Lakes.
WHO representative Joseph Chok urged the population to cooperate with the volunteers who are vaccinating children in the state. He said challenges to successfully vaccinating the children of Lakes include insecurity, bad roads, rain, and fuel shortages.
Throughout September, October, and November there will be polio vaccination campaigns in various states and nationally in South Sudan.