On Monday, the Federal Ministry of Health, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, rolled out vaccines for the war-scarred Sudanese population, making it the first country to benefit from it. The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region will benefit.
Malaria remains a leading cause of child mortality in Sudan, which has one of the highest malaria rates in the region. The disease killed around 7,900 people in Sudan in 2023.although the actual toll could be higher due to the ongoing conflict between rival armies.
The launch follows the arrival of the first batch of 186,000 doses to Sudan in October and the campaign will begin in 15 health facilities in Gedaref and Blue Nile states, benefiting more than 148,000 children under 12 months of age. In 2025 and 2026, the vaccine will be introduced in 129 more localities.
Rescue tool
“THE the opportunity offered by the introduction of the vaccine into the national vaccination program is enormoussaid Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative in Sudan.
“This vaccine is an essential new tool in our toolbox to combat child mortality,” he continued. The conflict in Sudan has made access to health care difficult.
An unprecedented 11 million people have been internally displaced and more than 70 percent of hospitals in conflict zones are now not operational. While vaccination rates reached 85 percent before the war, they have now fallen to around 50 percent.
Low immunization coverage and frequent disease outbreaks, such as cholera, malaria, measles and polio, expose millions of unvaccinated children to deadly but preventable diseases.
Strategic plan
The Federal Ministry of Health has developed extensive plans to ensure the rollout is successful, including training health workers, engaging communities and strengthening cold chain capacity to preserve vaccine quality.
Dr Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan, added that “WHO continues to advocate for comprehensive interventions against malaria, integrating the vaccine with other preventive measures”, emphasizing a multi-faceted approach.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine not only represents a crucial step in protecting the lives of countless children, but also symbolizes hope for a healthier future in the midst of adversity,” said Anne Cronin , Senior Country Director for Sudan at Gavi.
