S. Sudan: UNICEF delivers 5 M USD worth of supplies to curb Covid 19 Surge

By Deng Machol

Juba - UNICEF - South Sudan has procured and distributed supplies worth 5 million USD to help contain the spread of the virus in the world youngest country, the organization said today. 

The UN agency, supplies include personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line health workers, pharmaceuticals to treat symptoms among infected people, water, sanitation and hygiene commodities to prevent and control infections among households and in health facilities, as well as information, communication and educational materials to sensitize and engage local communities on preventive public health measures. 

However, South Sudan with a fragile health system, has recorded 2,113 cases of COVID 19 pandemic with 40 deaths.

“From supply shortages to transport constraints, COVID-19 has brought enormous challenges to our supply operations,” said Dr Mohamed Ayoya, the UNICEF Representative in South Sudan. “However, with support from our partners, we were able to meet the most pressing needs and to deliver the supplies crucial for our COVID-19 response.”

So far UNICEF has shipped gloves, tunics, surgical masks, boots and sanitizer for use as personal protective equipment (PPE) worth 810,000 USD. 

To help with the case management of infected people, UNICEF procured 40 oxygen concentrators, 3000 clinical thermometers, as well as 100,000 packs of paracetamol and 8,000 packs of oral rehydration salts for home-based symptomatic treatment for people with mild and moderate symptoms.

As prevention remains the most effective strategy in South Sudan to avoid the spread of the COVID 19, UNICEF has distributed nearly 50,000 face masks and continues to focus a major part of its supplies into producing and distributing banners, posters, leaflets and stickers with preventive messages. 

UNICEF has also already produced and distributed throughout the country 1 million A4 posters with key messages in English and in different local languages.

To ensure the quick production and dissemination of key information, communication and education materials and to reduce freight costs, UNICEF has favored production inside the country, including, most recently, 120,000 posters and leaflets on the proper use of face masks.

The engagement of local communities is crucial in containing the disease. To aid this, UNICEF procured 3,000 megaphones for social mobilisers who inform local communities about COVID-19 and distributed 750,000 bars of soap to promote hand washing within the communities.

“Supplies are essential for any humanitarian response to be effective”, said Dr Ayoya. “In the COVID-19 response we have set up with our partners and donors, our long-standing experience in South Sudan in procurement and distribution of supplies has proven to be an important asset. It allowed us to respond quickly and effectively to the specific challenges raised by the virus.”

Since the first case of COVID 19 was confirmed in restive country until today, the UN agencies, include others international organizations had been supported the youngest nation that emerged from the five year conflict with financial and materials to curtail the spread of deadly disease.