The happiest girl in the waiting line
Behind the scenes on vaccination day
Two-year Nendeo can't sit still. She is dancing but no one but her can hear the music. The large number of children crying at the vaccination post at Al-Sabah children's hospital in Juba as they receive the lifesaving jab and drops, doesn't seem to bother her at all. Neither, that the water from her bottle is running down her arms as she keeps on dancing.
Nendeo's contagious smile disappears as she is reaching the first post which is vitamin A supplementation. Blue capsule for the youngest children and red for big girls like Nendeo.
Nendeo is showing her tongue as proof of the vitamin A drops are swallowed.
UNICEF is giving vitamin A supplementation to children in South Sudan due to the lack of dietary variety. Normally, you get vitamin A through vegetables such as broccoli, carrot, papaya and mango. However, only seven per cent of the children in South Sudan (6-23 months) received the minimum acceptable diet last year. Hence, UNICEF with support from Canada is giving vitamin A drops to children. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, for a robust immune system and for organs such as heart , lungs and kidneys to function properly.
A health worker is marking Nendeo's pinky purple, indicating she has received vitamin A and a deworming tablet.
Children infected by worms often do not exhibit visible signs or symptoms, yet a worm infection can lead to an increased susceptibility to illness and disease and it diminish the ability to properly absorb vitamins. This is why UNICEF is ensuring children in South Sudan are regularly dewormed.
Time for the dreaded jab. Nendeo is forcefully crying for the few seconds it takes to give her the life-saving jab. Currently, South Sudan is battling an unprecedented outbreak of measles which started in 2019. Low routine immunization rate is why the country continues to see outbreak of measles and struggling with stamping it out, as it is very contagious. In addition to responsive campaigns, UNICEF, WHO, the Ministry of Health with support from GAVI are doing regular follow-up vaccination campaigns to boost immunity in the population.
Tears are drying up fast and Nendeo is back to her normal happy self.
4 February 2020, UNICEF, WHO and the Ministry of Health in South Sudan launched a nationwide integrated measles, vitamin A and deworming campaign, aiming to reach 2.5 million children. In addition to supporting the actual administration of the vaccine, vitamin A and deworming tablet, UNICEF is also engaging communities across South Sudan with information about the importance of these interventions and urging caregivers to ensure their children are properly protected. The immunization campaign is generously supported by GAVI and SIDA.
