JUBA, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced on Tuesday that it was on high alert and was scaling up preparedness in South Sudan's priority counties, while monitoring potential Ebola threats from neighboring countries.
UNICEF said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, that it has delivered over 50 metric tonnes of personal protective equipment and infection prevention and control (IPC) supplies. The organization is strengthening preparedness by raising IPC standards in health facilities and communities.
Noala Skinner, UNICEF representative to South Sudan, stressed the urgent need for investment to bolster surveillance, health facility readiness, supply chains, cross-border preparedness and surge capacity ahead of potential outbreaks.
"Evidence from previous Ebola outbreaks shows that preparation is key to keeping outbreaks under control," Skinner said.
Skinner noted that ongoing crises across South Sudan, including displacement, flooding, drought-like conditions, food insecurity and recurrent disease outbreaks, are straining essential services and heightening the risk of public health emergencies.
South Sudan recently identified both strengths and gaps across the response system by conducting a national simulation exercise to test its capacity to detect and manage potential outbreaks.
Should an outbreak reach South Sudan, Skinner said, trained health workers, adequate infection prevention supplies and well-informed communities will be vital to containing the virus and preventing exponential growth.
