South Sudan eradicates wild poliovirus-South Sudan

Juba, South Sudan, August 27, 2020-August 25, 2020, the African Regional Certification Commission for Eradication of Polio (ARCC) states that the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa region is free of wild poliovirus. Officially declared. Countries that have eradicated wild poliovirus. The last known case of indigenous wild poliovirus infection in South Sudan occurred in June 2009.

Polio Eradication The African Regional Commission for Certification of Eradication (ARCC) is an independent body appointed in 1998 by the WHO Regional Directors of the African Region to monitor the certification and containment process.

Together with South Sudan, three other African countries have submitted documents claiming to have accepted the free status of wild polioviruses, and the entire African region has been declared free of wild polioviruses. This will be officially confirmed later this year.

The ARCC’s decision was based on an extensive review of various data sets, including surveillance, routine immunization, and polio campaign data, and after a confirmed visit by an ARCC delegation in January 2020. It was ARCC members traveled to Warrap, John Gray, and Western Equatoria to better understand how the polio program operates in South Sudan.

“The approval of a free registration of wild polioviruses is a very important milestone in the history of public health in the country,” said Dr. Rose Mapur, chair of the National Certification Board in South Sudan. “But this is not the end of the work, as wild poliovirus can be imported from other endemic countries. To maintain polio-free conditions, achieve the necessary herd immunity In order to increase vaccination coverage, it is also necessary to maintain current levels of polio surveillance until all countries in the world are declared free of wild poliovirus. Today, with the acceptance of a document claiming the poliovirus’s free status, I thank the heroes, vaccinations, health caregivers, caregivers, and the press for their deaths in various vaccination campaigns. I would like to say that.”

In addition to the ARCC delegation visiting South Sudan to verify the accuracy and breadth of national documents on the absence of polio, from 15 to 18 June 2020 South Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Central Africa The Republic has presented further documentation supporting their claims that they do not contain wild poliovirus.

Health Minister Elizabeth Akuay Yor and Deputy Secretary of Health Dr. Mayen Mathieu Achiek, Dr. Orshayo Ol, WHO representative from South Sudan, UNICEF representative from South Sudan and Chairman of the Polio Committee were present. All reiterated their commitment to continue supporting a polio program that ensures that the country remains free of wild poliovirus and action is taken to further improve immunization coverage. It was

“The WHO is committed to assisting the Department of Health to enhance surveillance of all polioviruses from all sources. Dr. Olushayo Olu, WHO Representative of South Sudan, said: States.

Various partners are supporting South Sudan’s Ministry of Health through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Partnerships, including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary International, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, in achieving polio eradication achievements. , Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, Vacine Alliance. They have worked with the Ministry of Health on various aspects of surveillance, vaccinations, polio campaigns and other polio eradication programs.

“This is a great achievement for South Sudan and the result of many years of efforts by many actors under the guidance of the Ministry of Health. It has only been possible thanks to the long-term support of donors,” UNICEF representative from South Sudan. Dr. Mohamed Ayoya said. UNICEF strengthens the vaccination supply chain, enhances the uninterrupted supply of regular vaccines and complementary vaccination activities, and creates inter-community vaccination demand. Dr. Ayoya further added: Inspired by this success, tackle many of the other challenges children face in the country, in the health sector, and elsewhere. “

Note to editors

Since 1988, when the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to eradicate polio, considerable progress has been made towards globally stopping the transmission of the wild poliovirus (WPV). Independent groups of experts were appointed to carry out the process at global (Global Certification Committee, GCC), regional (Regional Certification Committee, RCC), and national level (National Certification Committee, NCC).

Media contacts

Helene Sandbu Ryeng Communications Specialist UNICEF South Sudan Tel: + 211 921 61 5824 Email: [email protected]

Jemila M. Ebrahim Communications Officer WHO South Sudan Tel: +211 92 164 7859 Email: [email protected]