24 February 2015 - Striving to reach zero polio infections, the South Sudanese Ministry of Health, UNICEF and other partners today launched a vaccination campaign in the Upper Nile State capital Malakal.

“This time we are going to target 3,500,000 children across the country to be vaccinated in two rounds,” said national Minister of Health Dr. Riek Gai Kok.

He added that the round beginning today would continue until 27 February, and another round of vaccinations would take place from 24 March to 27 March.

Dr. Gai appealed to all communities to take their children to polio vaccination centres and urged international nongovernmental organizations to support the government.

UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Malakal Paulin Nkwosseu disclosed that cases of polio in neighbouring countries like Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya in recent years continued to put South Sudan at risk of the disease.

Stressing that UNCEF is a global partner in the polio eradication initiative, which aims to eradicate polio by the year 2018, Mr. Nkwosseu reiterated the UN agency’s commitment to support South Sudan.

“UNICEF will continue to support the government … in procuring vaccines and by ensuring necessary logistics are in place (so that) vaccines are stored, transported and administered safely,” he said.

Mr. Nkwosseu emphasized that the disease had no cure and could leave children either dead or disabled for life.

“Your children should receive additional polio vaccinations every time vaccinators come to your community,” he said.