Over 1.1 million doses of oral cholera vaccine have arrived in South Sudan as part of a government-led campaign to inoculate more than 80% of the population. Despite this effort, the vaccination drive faces significant obstacles, including limited access to areas hardest hit by the outbreak.
The campaign aims to vaccinate at least 9 million people, with a focus on children and mothers. The vaccines, delivered to the capital Juba, will soon be dispatched to hotspots like Bentiu, where cholera has claimed 199 lives and infected over 13,000 people since the first case was reported in September in Renk.
UNICEF immunization officer Dr. Gabriel Boum Tap noted previous vaccine shortages but emphasized the ongoing effort to ramp up supply. However, accessibility issues, particularly in flood-affected areas and regions with security concerns, continue to hinder healthcare delivery.
Bentiu, Renk, and Juba are among the most affected areas, with at least one cholera case reported in 29 of South Sudan’s 79 counties. Victims, such as Thinjin Khoat, recount harrowing stories of dehydration and loss due to inadequate healthcare access.
Cholera, an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming contaminated food or water, can be fatal within hours if untreated. Flooding and poor living conditions have exacerbated the outbreak, creating ideal conditions for the disease to spread.
According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the rapid outbreak has overwhelmed local response systems in Rubkona County, home to a large refugee population. MSF’s project coordinator, Stephanie Ngai, highlighted inadequate funding and weak response coordination as major challenges to containing the outbreak.
The vaccination campaign, supported by international partners such as MSF and the World Health Organization, is set to begin next Monday, with hopes of mitigating the crisis and preventing further loss of life.