A major cholera vaccination campaign to stop the spread of Cholera has started in three drought-ravaged regions of Somalia. The main aim of the campaign is to protect over 450,000 people from the disease.

According to Health Canal, the Vaccine Alliance has delivered 953,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine to the country to protect over 450,000 people from the disease. The vaccine campaign will take place in three of the worst-hit regions, Bandar, Kismayo, and Beledweyne. The first round of cholera vaccination has started from March 15-19 and the second round will be from April 18-22.

The country, in the Horn of Africa, has long suffered from the weak central government. In 1993, the capital, Mogadishu, was seen of the "Black Hawk Dawn" battle between United States Army Rangers and clean militants.The New York Times has reported that now about three millions of people in Somalia face starvation caused by long drought. The United States in last week appeal $864 million for cholera vaccination in aid had raised and that is the third of that amount.

The current severe drought in Somalia has forced communities to use contaminated water that is helping to spread cholera. As a result of this, Cholera is spreading, attacking people already that is weakened by malnutrition.The cholera vaccination campaign is also beginning this week in South Sudan. Gavi is delivering 475,000 doses to the country to help the half of the cholera outbreak. The outbreak has reached over 5,500 cases in nationwide and claimed over 100 lives.

According to UNICEF report, the country had 15,619 known cholera cases and 548 deaths. In the last year, the country has already had over 13,000 cases and 333 deaths. However, UNICEF welcomes Gavi support for cholera vaccination campaign that comes at a very critical time.

Meanwhile, Cholera patient's lives can be saved by intravenous feeding and antibiotics. Gavi with the help of UNICEF has already started the cholera vaccination campaign at a very critical moment of Somalia.

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