174,000 CHILDREN VACCINATED IN JUST 6 DAYS


SUDAN
West Darfur

An urgent measles vaccination campaign launched in January in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State, in response to a sharp increase in cases.

Dr Ali,
Deputy medical coordinator

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We have observed it since
the conflict has started in Sudan

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that in West Darfur, there are
recurrent measles outbreaks.

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In last three months
(before the campaign started),
we have observed a dramatical increase

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in number of cases,
specifically in El Geneina locality,

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where we have an isolation unit
for the measles.

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There was a doubling of cases and
an average of admissions

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was about 130 per week.

In coordination with the Ministry of Health, our teams worked closely with the community to reach out 94% of children aged 9 months to 15 years.

Around 1,400 Community volunteers were trained, mobilized, and deployed across 237 vaccination sites.


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The communities were very supportive.

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They were actively
supporting the teams

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that were deployed
in different sites

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to bring their kids
for the vaccination.

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We were taking the opportunity of having
children coming to the vaccination

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to do mass malnutrition screening

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to have a reflection about
the nutrition status in El Geneina locality.

This was the first measles vaccination campaign in the locality of El Geneina since 2021

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Measles has become a recurrent
outbreak in the state,

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and it could be due
to many reasons:

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accessibility and availability
of the vaccine supplies in the state,

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the insecurity and also

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displacement and overcrowded
of the population due to the conflict,

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as well as disruption of
the health system in the state.


MSF calls for improved availability and accessibility of routine immunisation, as sustained immunity is essential to prevent recurrent measles outbreaks and protect children.