In response to a Yellow Fever outbreak in December 2023, the Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other partners, conducted a yellow fever vaccination campaign in Western Equatoria State. The campaign targeted Yambio, Nzara, Ibba, Ezzo, and Tambura Counties, reaching 465 798 persons with the lifesaving vaccine.

The outbreak, confirmed on 24 December 2023, marked the region’s second major outbreak in over three years, following a previous episode in the neighboring county of Kajo Keji in 2020. The campaign aimed to vaccinate approximately 608 268 individuals aged nine months to 65 years. Despite logistical challenges and the complexities of operating in a conflict-affected area, the initiative achieved a 77% coverage rate, highlighting the difficulties in reaching all targeted individuals.

The International Coordinating Group on Yellow Fever Provision released 610 000 doses of the Yellow Fever vaccine, enabling the Ministry of Health and its partners to launch the vaccination campaign. The campaign was bolstered by substantial financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which provided the necessary funding to facilitate the logistics and distribution of vaccines.

Dr Humphrey Karamagi, the WHO Representative for South Sudan, reflected on the campaign’s outcomes and the continuous challenges: “Achieving 77% coverage in such a challenging environment is commendable, yet it also underscores the need for sustained efforts to reach all at-risk populations. Our team’s commitment to conducting thorough epidemiological investigations and engaging with communities was instrumental in mitigating the outbreak’s impact”.

“This campaign has laid a strong foundation, but to ensure comprehensive protection against future outbreaks, it is imperative to include the Yellow Fever vaccine in South Sudan’s National Immunization Schedule,” said Dr Karamagi, stressing the importance of further integrating Yellow Fever vaccinations into the national framework”.

Facts to know about Yellow Fever
•    Yellow fever is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes that bite mostly during the day.
•    As of 2023, 34 countries in Africa and 13 countries in Central and South America are either endemic for or have regions that are endemic for, yellow fever.
•    Yellow fever is prevented by a vaccine, which is safe and affordable. A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to grant life-long protection.
•    A modelling study based on African data sources estimated the burden of yellow fever during 2013 was 84 000–170 000 severe cases and 29 000–60 000 deaths.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.

DRC suffered 159 documented attacks against healthcare facilities in 2022. In the case study areas, healthcare facilities cease operations for up to 4 weeks following an attack; Women avoid seeking antenatal and postnatal care in attacked health centers, risking maternal and infant lives; Shortages of medicines and parental fear endanger malnourished children; Local health workers, communities, and local health district management teams are the first to respond to reduce the impact of such an attack. However, critical gaps remain; A multifaceted approach based on collaboration between local, national, and international stakeholders is essential to ensure the continuity of health services for women and children under 5.

A new study by the IRC and ERSP-UCB analyzed attacks on health facilities in DRC. In 2022, 8% of the attacks against health facilities recorded in more than 30 countries in conflict occurred in DRC. This violence seriously compromises access to essential healthcare, particularly for pregnant women and children under the age of 5. The provinces of North and South Kivu, in the east of the country, are among the worst affected by this situation. 

It is against this backdrop that the International Rescue Committee (IRC), with the ERSP-UCB, in partnership with Insecurity Insight and the Researching the Impact of Attacks on Healthcare (RIAH) project, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth&Development Office (FCDO), has conducted a study to assess the impact of attacks on the healthcare system on service delivery, staff, and affected communities.

Leonie Tax, Health and Protection Data Specialist said, “The study, carried out in three areas in South Kivu and North Kivu, revealed alarming results for women and children under 5. Following an attack, the health facilities either slowed down or stopped operating altogether for between 2 and 4 weeks. The reasons include the fear of providing services at night, a lack of resources and infrastructure to replace those looted or destroyed, as well as a collective fear that reduced overall attendance at health facilities.”

The study has found the attacks have also significantly reduced the number of women attending health facilities for maternal health services, leading to a significant drop in the number of births at health facilities. In the Kirindera site, the number of children born in the health facility dropped from 50 in the month before the attack to less than 10 in the months following the attack. Services for children, such as post-natal consultations, preschool consultations, and vaccinations, have also been severely affected.

Dr Samuel Lwamushi Makali, Public health researcher and Head of the International Cooperation Department, Université Catholique de Bukavu, said, “The study shows how the community, health authorities, and health workers have adopted coping mechanisms to deal with the ongoing violence. Local health teams have organized psychological support for affected health staff, reorganized services with reduced working hours, and mobilized communities to rehabilitate facilities and raise awareness of the need to resume care. However, gaps remain, and humanitarian support and improved security are crucial to the gradual resumption of healthcare activities¨.

Dr Lievin Bangali, Senior Health Coordinator IRC DRC, said, “Violence against the health system in the context of armed conflict in eastern DRC is having a profound and devastating impact on the health of children and mothers, exposing these already vulnerable populations to increased risks of mortality and morbidity.”

To tackle this, the IRC calls for a multifaceted approach, combining capacity-building in health centers, improving access to care for affected populations, and implementing prevention and protection strategies. Collaboration between local, national, and international players is crucial to developing sustainable solutions. It would ensure the safety of healthcare staff, the protection of infrastructures, and the continuity of essential healthcare services. We all have the same goal: safeguarding the lives and well-being of communities affected by conflict.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Rescue Committee (IRC) .

An IMF team and the Sierra Leonean authorities held discussions on a new arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility; They made substantial progress towards understandings on the authorities’ development objectives and the reforms needed to achieve macroeconomic stability and maintain debt sustainability; Discussions will continue over the coming months. Continued fiscal and monetary tightening, and preservation of reserves, will be critical in the meantime.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Mr. Christian Saborowski, visited Freetown from April 8 to 12, 2024, to hold discussions with the Sierra Leonean authorities on their request for financial support under a new arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) after the previous arrangement came to an end on November 20, 2023 (Press Release 23/403). The discussions continued during the Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group in Washington, DC.

At the end of the discussion, Mr. Saborowski issued the following statement:

“The authorities substantially tightened macroeconomic policies in 2023 and into the first quarter of 2024. They are beginning to reap the fruits of the adjustment in the form of a stable exchange rate and declining inflation. Nonetheless, the remaining adjustment required to keep debt on a sustainable path is significant, financing needs are high, and foreign reserves have fallen.

“The authorities and the staff team reached agreement on most policies to underpin the requested arrangement under the ECF. They reached understandings on the authorities’ development objectives and reforms needed to achieve macroeconomic stability and maintain debt sustainability.

“Discussions will continue over the coming months, and the team plans to return to Freetown for a follow-up mission in early September to reach a staff-level agreement on the new arrangement under the ECF. Continued fiscal and monetary tightening, and preservation of reserves, will be critical in the meantime.

“We thank the authorities for their warm hospitality and the productive discussions.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr, has by Proclamation declared Tuesday, April 23, 2024, as By-Election Day and is to be observed as a National Holiday only in Nimba County and Electoral District #1, Grand Gedeh County, which are to hold the By-Elections.

According to a Foreign release, the Proclamation calls on citizens and foreign residents within Nimba County and Electoral District #1, Grand Gedeh County to respect, specifically this National Holiday and directs government offices, business houses, private and public institutions of learning and marketplaces in the affected locations to be closed on that day from six o’ clock ante meridian to six o’ clock post meridian. 

The Proclamation stresses that the Government of the Republic of Liberia is desirous of ensuring the unhindered movement of all eligible voters, granting unto them the opportunity to exercise their constitutional franchise in Nimba County and Electoral District #1, Grand Gedeh County in a peaceful manner on the day of election.

Two vacancies have been created in the Legislature, one in the Senate because of Senator Jeremiah Kpan Koung’s election as Vice President following the October 10, 2023, Presidential Elections, and the other, as a result of the death of Representative Erol Madison Gwion, from Electoral District #1, Grand Gedeh County.

In fulfillment of Article 37 of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, the presiding officer of the Senate on January 31, 2024, through the Secretary of the Senate, informed the National Elections Commission of a vacancy in the Senate, affecting Nimba County, and the presiding officer of the Honorable House of Representatives through its Chief Clerk on February 2, 2024, informed the National Elections Commission of a vacancy in the House of Representatives, affecting Electoral District #1, Grand Gedeh County.

According to the Presidential Proclamation, article 37 of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia provides that in the event of a vacancy in the Legislature caused by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, the Presiding Officer shall within 30 days notify the Elections Commission thereof, the Elections Commission shall not later than 90 days thereafter cause a by-election to be held, provided that where such vacancy occurs within ninety days prior to the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy shall await the holding of such general elections.

The Proclamation further stresses that these by-elections are in consonance with Article 45 and 48 of the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia. Article 45 provides that the Senate shall be composed of Senators elected for a term of nine years by the registered voters in each of the counties, but a Senator elected in a by-election to fill a vacancy created by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, shall be so elected to serve only the remainder of the unexpired term of office. Each county shall elect two Senators and each Senator shall have one vote in the Senate. Senators shall be eligible for re-election.

Article 48  also states that “The House of Representatives shall be composed of members elected for a term of six years by the registered voters in each of the legislative constituencies of the counties, but a member of the House of Representatives elected in a by-election to fill a vacancy created by death, resignation, expulsion or otherwise, shall be elected to serve only the remainder of the  unexpired term of the office, Members of the House of Representatives shall be eligible for reelection.

The Proclamation furthers that the National Elections Commission has scheduled the holding of the By-Elections for a Senator in Nimba County and a Representative in Electoral District #1, Grand Gedeh County on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.