Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the ability of South Sudan to maintain its vaccine programme after the global polio eradication initiative in that country has been wound down.

South Sudan has been polio free since June 2009. The UK supports the eradication of polio globally through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which has reduced polio cases by more than 99% since its launch in 1988. In preparation for the world to be certified polio-free and the corresponding ending of GPEI funding, GPEI is supporting countries to plan for this transition and ensure that investments made to eradicate polio contribute to future health goals. Given the fragile situation, South Sudan has been selected as one of 16 countries who are receiving additional in-country technical assistance for transition planning and the UK-led Health Pooled Fund, South Sudan’s largest health programme, is improving access to healthcare including routine immunisations for children. For South Sudan to remain polio-free, these efforts are focussing on increasing vaccination coverage and maintaining essential surveillance systems.