Sudan Launches Vaccine Drive for 390,000 Children

After years of war disrupted vaccine supplies across South Darfur, health workers are launching an ambitious campaign to protect 390,000 children from preventable diseases.

The measles and rubella vaccination effort targets children aged nine months to 15 years across 21 localities in the state. Health authorities recorded more than 8,000 measles cases in just six months, prompting urgent action to stop the outbreak.

Mohamed Haroun, who directs the expanded immunization program, said 267 vaccination centers will deploy 400,000 doses across the region. Teams are setting up fixed sites, temporary clinics, and mobile units to reach children in the hardest-to-access areas.

The campaign focuses heavily on displacement camps, where 102,946 children will receive vaccines. Other priority areas include Kass locality with 157,073 children, El Salam with 81,816, and Beleil with 50,176.

The Bright Side

This vaccination push represents more than disease prevention. It signals health systems rebuilding after nearly three years of disrupted medical care.

Abbas, the health ministry's director general, explained that the war had allowed several infectious diseases to reemerge, including diphtheria, whooping cough, and waves of cholera. The ministry is now working with government and local authorities to restore essential services and protect vulnerable populations.

Health workers have continued providing care throughout the conflict despite extremely difficult conditions. Abbas specifically praised medical staff who stayed at their posts to serve their communities when supplies were scarce and infrastructure crumbled.

The vaccination campaign will roll out in two phases, first covering nine localities before expanding to 12 additional areas. The goal is to boost overall immunization coverage and prevent future outbreaks of diseases that vaccines can stop.

Teams are bringing healthcare directly to children rather than waiting for families to travel to distant clinics. This approach recognizes that conflict has made movement difficult and that reaching every child requires meeting them where they are.

Health workers are proving that even amid ongoing challenges, protecting the next generation remains possible when communities come together.