“You can’t play if you get sick”: Measles vaccination in El Geneina, Sudan

Measles remains a leading cause of death for young children in some parts of the world where weak public immunization systems and record-high numbers of displaced people living in close quarters continue to fuel outbreaks. Measles is highly contagious and can be fatal if not prevented or treated early, so sustained access to routine immunization is crucial. Children are especially vulnerable.

This past November, in El Geneina, teams with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) were treating around 130 measles cases per week in the isolation ward at El Geneina Teaching Hospital. "From November 2025 to the end of January 2026, we treated a total of 778 measles cases,” says Dr. Ali Daoud, MSF's deputy medical coordinator.

In response to the surge in measles cases in El Geneina, MSF carried out a vaccination campaign in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and other health partners from January 25 to 30. During these six days, more than 174,000 children between the ages of 9 months and 15 years old were vaccinated —  approximately 94 percent of the target demographic. 

"It's important for other children to get the vaccine to protect themselves from the disease,” says Khalid, 14, who encouraged his cousin to join him and his siblings at one of the vaccination sites. “The injection does not hurt. Afterwards, I can go home, pray, and study.”

Community mobilization at the heart of the campaign

Community engagement played a central role in achieving high coverage. Over 1,400 community volunteers were mobilized, trained, and deployed by MSF throughout the campaign to support activities at over 200 vaccination sites in El Geneina.

Mobile teams helped to raise awareness by sharing immunization schedules and encouraging families to bring their children in for vaccination.

"Delivering this vital campaign required strong community engagement as well as significant logistical support and coordination," says Abdalhalim Ishag, MSF logistics base at El Geneina Teaching Hospital. "To reach over 200 vaccination sites in El Geneina, we mobilized resources to cover remote and hard-to-reach areas."

"I first felt scared, but the injection didn’t hurt,” says 10-year-old Mawa, who attended a vaccination site with her four brothers. "I have not seen anyone with measles before, but I know you can’t play if you get sick. The vaccine will protect me and my family.” 

Vaccination is a crucial health need amid ongoing instability

This is not the first time that our teams have supported the state Ministry of Health in responding to an increase in measles cases in West Darfur state. In mid-2025, a mass coverage campaign was conducted in Foro Baranga locality, which is a rural area in the south of this state. 

For many people, survival is not only about escaping violence. It is also about surviving diseases such as measles, which spreads due to multiple factors, including displacement, overcrowding, limited access to health care, gaps in routine vaccination, and fragile disease surveillance systems.

"MSF continues to call on the Ministry of Health and health actors to strengthen the availability and accessibility of routine vaccination services across Darfur," says Dr. Ali. "Sustained vaccination services are essential to prevent recurrent [outbreaks] of measles cases and protecting children, not only in West Darfur but also in all of Sudan."