The government of Jonglei State in collaboration with health partners commemorated World Malaria Day on Saturday under the theme, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest. Reimagine.”
The day serves as an important reminder of malaria’s devastating impact, particularly on children and pregnant women and the need for urgent intervention.
Speaking at the event, Jonglei State Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the health sector in the fight against malaria.
He pledged to implement health policies through the state’s Ministry of Health to strengthen the sector.
‘’We are going to shoulder the responsibility of controlling malaria in Jonglei State. I assure you that I will remain here as your ambassador and I will support and implement your policies in Jonglei State,’’ he said.
‘’And to my partners, especially the National and International Non-Governmental organizations as well as the UN system in the state, to be assured that we are going to work together as a team and we will make it,’’ he stated.
Dr. Apel Tobi Maduot, Director of the National Malaria Control Program, assured the public that the malaria vaccine is safe and effective.
She noted that although all health facilities in the State will receive the vaccines, distribution may be delayed due to existing challenges faced by the Ministry.
Dr. Maduot also urged the public to consistently use treated mosquito nets and eliminate stagnant water around their homes to protect their families from malaria.
‘’I would like to encourage the people of South Sudan including the people in Bor county to protect all the communities and families from malaria by making sure everyone sleeps under a treated mosquito net,’’ Dr.Maduot pointed out.
‘’We also want to encourage the head of the households to give priority to the women and children by providing them with mosquito nets. Prevention is better than cure. So if they don’t have the nets, please buy them,’’ she added.
As part of the ongoing malaria prevention efforts, mosquito nets will be distributed to communities across the country in 2026.
Meanwhile, Lual Monyluak Dau, Jonglei State Minister of Health, appealed to the national Ministry of Health to establish two new primary health facilities in Bor to reduce congestion at Bor State Hospital.
He urged women to take their children to the hospital for treatment when signs and symptoms of malaria begin to appear.
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites and is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Common signs and symptoms include fever, headache, and vomiting.
The disease can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites, such as by sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and by taking antimalarial medications.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 263 million malaria cases and 597,000 malaria-related deaths occurred across 83 countries in 2023.
The WHO African Region continues to bear a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden. In 2023, African region accounted for 94% of all malaria cases (246 million) and 95% of all malaria deaths (569,000).
