New cases of measles in eastern Sudan’s Suakin

23/07/2018 15:23 SUAKIN

Five new cases of measles were recorded among children in Suakin locality in Red Sea state last week.
“This brings the total number of infections to 475 cases since February,” journalist Osman Hashim told Radio Dabanga
“Most of the families in these localities are very poor, and unable to take their sick children to a health centre or a hospital in Port Sudan, also because of the lack of transportation resulting from the fuel crisis,” he said.

A child receives a vaccination against measles in Sudan (Noorani/Unicef).

Five new cases of measles were recorded among children in Suakin locality in Red Sea state last week.

“This brings the total number of infections to 475 cases since February,” journalist Osman Hashim told Radio Dabanga

“Most of the families in these localities are very poor, and unable to take their sick children to a health centre or a hospital in Port Sudan, also because of the lack of transportation resulting from the fuel crisis,” he said.

Hashim remarked that the infectious disease is spreading in particular in Sinkat, Tokar, and Suakin localities. “There are almost no measles cases in Port Sudan city.”

Medical authorities complain about the lack of federal support for a vaccination campaign against measles in Red Sea state.

“This has negatively affected the number of cadres working for immunisation programmes in the countryside,” a medic explained.

‘Epidemic’

Earlier this month, the health sector of the Communist Party of Sudan (CPoS) reported a rise in the incidences of measles in the country this year by 158 per cent compared to 2017.

CPoS medics said in a press conference in Khartoum that the number of confirmed measles amounted to 1,301 so far, compared to 504 cases in 2017. The disease is spreading most in North Darfur.

The party called on the government to immediately declare an epidemic.