On Monday, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, rolled out vaccines to Sudan’s war-torn population, making it the first country in the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region to benefit.
Malaria remains a leading cause of child mortality in Sudan, which has one of the highest malaria rates in the region. The disease claimed an estimated 7,900 lives in Sudan in 2023although the actual toll may be higher due to ongoing conflict between rival militaries.
The launch follows the arrival of the first shipment of 186,000 doses to Sudan in October, and the campaign will begin across 15 health facilities in Gedaref and Blue Nile states, benefiting more than 148,000 children under 12 months of age. In 2025 and 2026, the vaccine will be introduced in a further 129 locations.
Life saving tool
“The The possibilities of introducing the vaccine into the national immunization program are enormoussaid Sheldon Yett, UNICEF representative in Sudan.
“This vaccine is a critical new tool in our toolkit to combat child mortality,” he continued. Sudan’s conflict has made access to healthcare challenging.
An unprecedented 11 million people have been internally displaced and more than 70 percent of hospitals in conflict areas are now out of service. While vaccination rates had reached 85 percent before the war, they have now plummeted to around 50 percent.
Low immunization coverage and frequent disease outbreaks, such as cholera, malaria, measles and polio, expose millions of unvaccinated children to fatal but preventable diseases.
Strategic plan
The Federal Ministry of Health has developed comprehensive plans to ensure a successful rollout, including training health workers, engaging communities and strengthening cold chain capacity to ensure vaccine quality.
Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO representative in Sudan added that “WHO continues to advocate for comprehensive malaria interventions that integrate the vaccine with other preventive measures,” stressing a multifaceted approach.
“The introduction of the malaria vaccine not only represents a critical step forward in protecting the lives of countless children, but also symbolizes hope for a healthier future in the midst of adversity,” said Anne Cronin, Senior Country Manager for Sudan at Gavi.
