{"id":20129727,"date":"2026-03-12T15:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20129727"},"modified":"2026-03-12T19:39:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T18:39:53","slug":"south-darfur-launches-measles-vaccination-campaign-for-390000-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/south-darfur-launches-measles-vaccination-campaign-for-390000-children","title":{"rendered":"South Darfur launches measles vaccination campaign for 390,000 children"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Health authorities in South Darfur have launched a large-scale vaccination campaign against measles and rubella, targeting hundreds of thousands of children across the state amid a surge in infections<\/a> in recent months. The campaign, announced by the state\u2019s ministry of health, aims to immunise children aged between nine months and 15 years across multiple localities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mohamed Haroun, director of the expanded immunisation programme at the ministry, said during the launch that the campaign is expected to reach more than 390,000 children across South Darfur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to health officials, the largest numbers of children targeted are in several key areas: El Salam locality (81,816), Beleil (50,176), Kass (157,073) and displacement camps across the state (102,946).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The campaign will be carried out through 267 vaccination centres using around 400,000 doses of vaccine. Authorities plan to deploy a combination of fixed and temporary vaccination sites as well as mobile teams to reach children in remote communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haroun said the effort forms part of a broader immunisation initiative that also targets children aged one to five in several localities. The programme will be conducted in two phases: a first round covering nine localities, followed by a second round reaching a further 12 areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials say the aim is to boost vaccination coverage and prevent outbreaks of diseases that can be avoided through routine immunisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Widespread outbreak<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abbas, director general of the South Darfur health ministry, said health reports over the past six months have recorded a widespread outbreak of measles across all 21 localities in the state, with more than 8,000 cases reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the scale of the outbreak had prompted the ministry, in cooperation with the national immunisation programme and health organisations, to launch the comprehensive campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abbas added that the war had disrupted vaccine supplies to the state for nearly three years, contributing to the re-emergence of several infectious diseases, including diphtheria, whooping cough and measles, as well as waves of cholera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ministry is now working with government and local authorities to rebuild the health system and restore essential services, he said, with a focus on protecting children and improving access to healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abbas also praised medical staff and health workers who have continued to provide services throughout the years of conflict despite difficult conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renewed outbreaks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outbreak of epidemics in Sudan has resumed after a period of decline<\/a>, with 2,576 cases of malaria recorded, along with 211 new cases of dengue fever in the cities of Khartoum and Omdurman, and 39 deaths in the capital as a result of dengue fever. Statistics showed that the most vulnerable groups were the most affected, with 22 deaths recorded among women and six among children, amid a severe and terrible shortage of medicines and basic medical supplies.<\/p>\n