As cholera continues to spread, UNICEF charters 1.6 million doses of vaccines to Sudan

UNICEF chartered a plane carrying 1.6 million doses of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) to Khartoum yesterday. The vaccines arrived to Sudan at a critical time as cholera cases continue to be reported. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, since the beginning of the outbreak on 8 September, eight deaths were reported in the Blue Nile and Sennar states.

Funded by the Global Alliance of Vaccines (GAVI), the vaccines will be used in the vaccination campaign, the first in three years, kicking off on 12 October.

Timely procurement and urgent delivery of vaccines is a top priority for UNICEF to prevent cholera from spreading further in Sudan. UNICEF and its partners are working to strengthen water treatment systems, distribute water purification products for stagnant water, and provide technical support including monitoring for planning and implementation.

Across Sudan, humanitarian teams and community volunteers are raising awareness on hygiene practices and prevention methods, through disseminating information about cholera symptoms and the crucial need for vaccination.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.