Federal Ministry of Health Announces Completion of Preparations for the National Polio Outbreak Response Campaign
Khartoum/ Haffiya Elyas
The Federal Ministry of Health has announced the completion of all preparations for the launch of the national campaign to respond to the polio outbreak, targeting several states including Khartoum, Kassala, Gezira , Sennar, White Nile, Gedaref, and North Kordofan.
The Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization, Ismail Al-Adni, emphasized the importance of the campaign, noting that Sudan has been free of the wild poliovirus since 2009. However, mutated and imported strains are still being detected through environmental surveillance of sewage samples, which requires a rapid response through vaccination campaigns and strengthened surveillance systems.
He revealed that the campaign targets more than 4.3 million children, affirming the program’s readiness to vaccinate all children across Sudan in coordination with partners and donors.
During a media briefing for journalists, the Ministry confirmed that the campaign will begin on Monday, April 27, as part of national efforts to strengthen prevention, curb the spread of the disease, and ensure that vaccines reach all targeted children.
For his part, the representative of the Federal Health Promotion Department, Zaki Hussein Idris, stressed that the media plays a vital role in the success of the campaign by raising public awareness and correcting misconceptions about vaccines.
Zaki explained that the campaign will be implemented through two main strategies: house-to-house vaccination to ensure comprehensive coverage, as well as service delivery through health centers across various localities.
Meanwhile, Habib Ali Habib, from UNICEF highlighted the importance of the media in promoting awareness about vaccination. He affirmed that the vaccines are approved by the World Health Organization and the Federal Ministry of Health, calling for the dissemination of accurate health messages and joint efforts toward a polio-free Sudan.
The Federal Ministry of Health called on citizens to cooperate with vaccination teams and allow access to their homes to enable health workers to carry out their duties, contributing to the protection of children and the promotion of public health in the country.
The Ministry also revealed during the media briefing that cases of polio have been detected in Kassala and North Kordofan states, which has necessitated intensified efforts and accelerated health interventions to limit the spread of the disease.
It further clarified that the campaign targets children from birth up to five years of age and will be carried out using the same two key strategies: house-to-house vaccination to ensure full coverage, in addition to services provided through health centers in the localities.
The Federal Ministry of Health urged mothers to remain at home during the campaign period and to cooperate with vaccination teams to ensure that all children receive the vaccine, affirming that the vaccine is safe, effective, and essential for protecting children from the disease.