El Daein, September 23 (Darfur24)
Health authorities in East Darfur on Monday launched a cholera vaccination campaign in El Daein, the state capital, and Abu Jabra locality, marking the first such effort since the outbreak of war in April 2023.
Mohamed Joda, the Director of the Expanded Immunization Department, stated that the campaign will run until October 1 and will focus on areas with the highest death and infection rates.
He confirmed that a total of 419,799 vaccine doses have been distributed: 259,799 doses to El Daein, which has recorded 60 deaths and 680 infections, and 160,000 doses to Abu Jabra, where there have been eight deaths and 224 infections reported.
For his part, Abdullah Ibrahim Aboud, the Director of Health Promotion, noted that the campaign is supported by an awareness initiative that includes mobile media, community leader meetings, and gatherings at mosques.
Last week, the Ministry of Health imposed a ban on funerals for cholera victims and prohibited food sales near the teaching hospital to help curb the spread of the epidemic. Health officials warn that efforts to combat cholera are hindered by limited resources and the collapse of health services due to the ongoing conflict.