In a critical move to combat the resurgence of polio, the Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan has commenced a vital four-day house-to-house vaccination campaign targeting over 648,000 children under the age of five in the challenging regions of White Nile State. The initiative began on November 11, 2024, and is being conducted with the assistance of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim Awadallah, expressed pride in the campaign, emphasizing, “After months of meticulous planning, we are ready to protect our children from this ongoing polio outbreak. The dedication of our health workers is commendable, and it is vital that we ensure every child in White Nile receives the nOPV vaccine.”

This vaccination effort comes as part of an overarching strategy to respond to a variant poliovirus detected in Red Sea State earlier this year. The current conflict in Sudan has significantly impeded routine immunization coverage, which has plummeted to alarming levels. As new rounds of vaccination campaigns roll out, official sources have highlighted the increasing number of children left vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases due to the ongoing strife.

Dr. Shible Sahbani, the WHO Representative in Sudan, noted, “We are working tirelessly to halt the outbreak and ensure that children receive essential vaccinations. Our efforts also include bolstering polio surveillance in response to the crisis.”

The backdrop of this vaccination initiative is a troubling one; many health facilities in conflict-affected areas are non-operational, limiting access to healthcare services. Loopholes in the supply chain and difficulties in retaining healthcare workers pose additional challenges. "When essential health services falter amidst conflict, it is the children who suffer most," stated Sheldon Yett, UNICEF's Representative in Sudan. "Our goal is to make these lifesaving vaccines accessible to every child, no matter where they live."

Prior to the campaign, extensive community engagement and social mobilization activities were carried out, ensuring that local populations are aware of the importance of vaccination. The support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is pivotal in facilitating these efforts.

The urgency of the situation is underscored by previous vaccination campaigns that reached large numbers of children across various states in Sudan. In April 2024, for instance, over 221,000 children were vaccinated, with follow-up campaigns in June and August vaccinating millions more.

As Sudan continues to grapple with the dual crises of conflict and disease, the commitment to immunization remains a beacon of hope for safeguarding the health and future of its youngest citizens.