By Yien Gattuor

At least 200,000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine were delivered to Mayom County of Unity State last Friday, an official has confirmed.

Bany Makon, the acting Director General in the State Ministry of Health, said the vaccination will start on Wednesday in all health facilities within the County.

“I am informing the public that the Cholera vaccination will take place starting on Wednesday.”

According to him, the training for the vaccinators as well as public awareness had begun on Sunday.

“The state government appreciates the great work and commitment shown by the stakeholders and we are requesting health partners and well-wishers to work with us.”

The vaccination exercise is planned to take place in four days.

 “It is good that the population will be vaccinated because many people have died of cholera in  Mayom County since December last year,” Makon said.

Early this month, Unity State Government received 225,000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine from the National Ministry of Health and health partners to fight the disease outbreak.

“I am informing the public that the cholera vaccination will take place starting on 7 January but the awareness team will go around and they will be followed by the vaccination team,” he said. “The state government appreciates the great work and commitment shown by the stakeholders and we are requesting health partners and well-wishers to work with us to help the citizens during these difficult times.”

South Sudan has so far recorded more than 50,000 cholera cases and 450 related deaths since the outbreak. Speaking to the media last week, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Harriet Pasquale said infection rates remain high in Juba, Mayom in Unity State, Twic East in Jonglei and Aweil West in Northern Bhar el Ghazal.

The Undersecretary stated that most of the fatalities are being recorded in Mayom County due to limited awareness of the disease.