South Sudan News

12 February 2019, Juba – South Sudan conducted an Ebola virus disease (EVD) Tabletop exercise (TTX) for National Rapid Response Team (NRRT) on 12 February 2019. The exercise aimed at enhancing NRRT’s operational readiness by familiarizing participants with the EVD Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Rapid Response Team (RRT) activation, deployment and field investigation procedures. It also provided participants with an opportunity to evaluate current capabilities and resources for prompt deployment in response to any suspected EVD case. 

15 February 2019, Juba – In 2016, with support from WHO and partners, South Sudan was the first country in the world to roll out “EWARS in a box,” the early warning, alert and response system (EWARS) that permitted mobile phone-based reporting of priority outbreak-prone diseases from a number of partner-supported health facilities in the conflict-affected areas of the country. 

8 February 2019, Juba – Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is one of the main causes of illness and death among under-five children in South Sudan. In 2019, nearly 260 000 young children are estimated to suffer severe acute malnutrition and, at least, 10 to 15 percent are expected to develop medical complications which can impede intellectual potential and inhibit physical growth, resulting in increased risk of lifelong disability.

Juba, 12 December 2018 – To improve immunization and surveillance strategies, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) officers and field supervisors of all states, gathered from 11 to 13 December 2018 to review the Expanded Programme on Immunization program performance in 2018, the accountability system and its impact on staff performance.

Juba 8 December, 2018 – The Ministry of Health of the Republic of South Sudan with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), DFID, GAVI vaccine alliance and other partners, is set to vaccinate targeted healthcare and frontline workers operating in high risk states bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) against Ebola virus disease (EVD) as part of national preparedness efforts.

Juba, 1 December 2018 – Despite the ongoing complex humanitarian crises in South Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and partners responding to the yellow fever outbreak in Gbudue State.  

Following the declaration of the Yellow Fever outbreak on 29 November 2018, WHO deployed a multidisciplinary team of experts to undertake an in-depth epidemiological; entomological; and laboratory investigations from 1 to 8 December 2018.