IOM, Partners Complete Cholera Vaccination Campaign In Bentiu The International Organization for Immigration (IOM) in South Sudan, in close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners have completed the second and final round of an oral cholera vaccine campaign at the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Bentiu, Unity State. 19 July 2015
By Jok P Mayom *JUBA, 01 July 2015 [Gurtong]- * In a news note, the vaccination of the internally displaced population (IDP) in the Bentiu PoC site is critical in the wake of the 23rd June declaration of a cholera outbreak in Juba City, as of 30th June teams in the country have confirmed over 350 cholera cases in Juba County. The IOM said during two rounds of cholera vaccinations between 1st–28th June, the IOM Rapid Response Team and partners vaccinated more than 71,200 people, including IDPs, United Nation and humanitarian staff. David Derthick, IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission said with the Bentiu IDP population increasing by hundreds each day and the rainy season setting in, conditions are ripe for the spread of disease. “IOM’s cholera vaccination campaign is a vital step to keeping cholera at bay in Bentiu.” Said David “IOM will use the remaining vaccines to vaccinate new arrivals as they enter the PoC site” he added. Although no confirmed cases have been reported outside of Juba, pre-emptive activities such as, oral vaccination and hygiene promotions are critical to help contain the spread of cholera, especially in crowded IDP sites like Bentiu. The last cholera outbreak in 2014 resulted in at least 167 deaths across the country; however, no cholera cases were reported in the Bentiu PoC site, according to the South Sudanese government and WHO. “This was largely due to the combination of an oral cholera vaccine campaign and increased awareness on the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation. Heightened efforts to emphasize the importance of using latrines and hand washing are needed in order to reach the same results this year”. “This year’s IOM-led oral cholera vaccine campaign in Bentiu occurred before the height of the rainy season, when flooding and deteriorating living conditions can lead to disease outbreaks. The vaccine only prevents cholera, not other diarrheal diseases, which can be just as deadly”. Haley West, IOM Migration Health Programme Coordinator said, “Through the efforts of our Rapid Response Team, IOM has quickly vaccinated the IDP population against cholera, while at the same time enabling our health partners to continue regular medical services that are just as vital to minimizing the spread of diseases,” “As a health care provider at the Bentiu PoC site, IOM also supports preventive measures and early detection of communicable diseases” said West. “During the past week alone, the IOM health clinic serviced more than 2,000 health consultations and increased health promotion activities to encourage IDPs to seek timely health care assistance”. IOM teams in Bentiu also implement water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions, including constructing sanitation infrastructure, ensuring access to safe drinking water and promoting good hygiene and sanitation habits. “In an effort to curb flooding and poor WASH conditions seen in 2014, IOM and partners embarked on improving and expanding the Bentiu PoC site this year”. “The work in progress includes extensive drainage infrastructure and increased access to humanitarian services, which will contribute to improved living conditions”. “In response to a request from WHO and other health partners, IOM will also lead an oral cholera vaccination campaign in the UN PoC site in Malakal, Upper Nile State, in the coming weeks”. IOM said the vaccination campaign at the Bentiu PoC site was funded by the USAID Office of the US Foreign Disaster Assistance Rapid Response Fund. Posted in: Home <http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/CategoryView/mid/519/categoryId/1/Home.aspx> -- To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/southsudankob View this message at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/southsudankob/topic-id/message-id For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SouthSudanKob/CAJb14oo3WLhDJjxSAE7F36q%2B%3DarNkRSD%3DHBycAG4v7UERe6Mug%40mail.gmail.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
