South Sudan – In response to a confirmed measles outbreak in Abyei Administrative Area, IOM led a mass measles vaccination campaign from 10 to 17 October 2016, reaching more than 21,500 children under the age of five years.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak in September after approximately 50 cases were reported across Abyei. Many of the cases were among children who are under the age of one year and would have been too young to be covered by the last mass measles vaccination campaign conducted in early 2016.

To stem the spread of the outbreak, an IOM rapid response team deployed to Abyei on 5 October 2016 and immediately began training vaccination teams to ensure wide coverage across Abyei Area. Staff from the MoH, WHO, Goal, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF ensured the success of the campaign by supporting efficient cold chain management, training vaccinators, supervising missions and providing vaccines and logistical support.

Heavy rains and poor roads disrupted access to several areas for several days of the campaign, requiring vaccinators and supervisors to endure difficult conditions to reach target populations. Protection support from the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) enabled vaccinators to safely reach populations in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

“Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children in the region, where access to health care is limited for thousands of children,” explains IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission William Barriga. “At IOM clinics across the country and through rapid response missions, we are helping displaced and vulnerable communities get immunized against common diseases, including measles, through regular vaccination programmes.”

The Abyei Administrative Area is an oil-rich territory of more than 10,000 square kilometers contested by Sudan and South Sudan. Recent history of inter-communal conflict and the absence of public institutions in Abyei, particularly since heavy fighting in 2011, have resulted in significant humanitarian needs and increased the likelihood of disease outbreaks.

IOM’s rapid response mission to Abyei was supported by funding from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Government of Japan.

For further information, please contact Ashley McLaughlin at IOM South Sudan, Tel: +211 922 405 716, Email: amclaughlin@iom.int.