Vaccination campaigns eliminate deadly maternal and newborn disease

South Sudan and Sudan have eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus through large-scale vaccination programmes, safer childbirth practices, and expanded maternal healthcare services.

“I vaccinate more than 20 women a day,” said Massara, a vaccinator at Al Jubarab Primary Health Care Facility in Sudan. “After sustained awareness sessions and community outreach, women now come willingly.”

Health workers, midwives, and vaccination teams helped both countries achieve the public health milestone despite conflict, displacement, and strained healthcare systems. Sudan reached elimination standards across all 188 districts after vaccination campaigns between 2016 and 2019 protected more than 3.5 million women of reproductive age, with 95% receiving at least two doses. In South Sudan, community outreach and vaccine education programmes helped improve trust in immunisation services. Since 1999, global efforts supported by UNICEF and partners have helped eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus in 51 of the 59 priority countries worldwide.