Table 1 Chronology of key milestones of the NMCP over the years: 1998-2013

WHO begins to support the coordination and management of malaria control within the Southern Sudan Health Secretariat.

WHO established an EWARN to facilitate rapid reporting and investigation of suspected outbreaks by a network of NGO-operated health facilities operating in southern Sudan.

A Malaria Task Force was formed in order to allow a broad discussion and consensus building mechanism among partners with respect to the new malaria treatment policy.

The national Malaria Control Programme is formed as part of the Secretariat for Health, then based in Nairobi.

Vector control needs assessment for IVM was done in 2005 following the Resolution (EM/RC.52/R.6).

USAID began to support disease surveillance activities in southern Sudan with funding through the CDC as a component of the Sudan Health Transformation Project (SHTP I).

The Secretariat inclusive of NMCP was relocated to Juba, South Sudan; throughout this time and beyond, the NMCP was staffed by one person, the Programme Manager.

USAID through MSH seconded one full time malaria Technical Advisor to the NMCP to support the Programme Manager and team.

First IDSR Task force formed and endorsed case definitions for a small set of priority diseases.

The first Monitoring and Evaluation Officer was recruited with support from USAID through MSH.

NMCP Office established and the first Malaria Prevention and Control Strategic Plan (July 2006-June 2011, extended to 2013) was finalized with support from USAID funded Technical Assistance.

The ACT based treatment Policy was finalized leading to development of the first Malaria Treatment Policy; This was followed by a roll out of training of health workers in all the health facilities between 2007 and 2010.

The Country Malaria Technical Working Group was formed to ensure coordinated malaria programming. The TWG has played a critical role in supporting NMCP to fulfill its functions.

NMCP drafted a concept paper advocating for mass distribution campaigns to rapidly increase LLIN coverage.

The first African Malaria Day was commemorated on April 25th 2007. These are now commemorated annually as World Malaria Days.

LLIN mass campaigns piloted in 3 states with MDTF and USAID support; since then Mass LLIN distribution campaigns have been rolled out in all the states.

WHO takes on the IDSR mantle with assistance from USAID and ECHO.

The GoSS recruited 3 Public Health Officers for Vector Control, Case Management/BCC and M & E.

IDSR Action Plan 2009–2013 was completed.

The HMM program rolled out to further increase access to ACTs.

The first MIS conducted with support from partners and a malaria epidemiological map developed.

The NMCP Manager recruited alongside the Case Management and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with support from the GFATM; State Malaria Coordinators recruited with Government support.

The first annual malaria planning and review meeting held with state malaria coordinators and M&E officers.

South Sudan becomes a WHO member state, the 23rd under EMRO.

With support from its partners NMCP established 32 sentinel which are used for monitoring malaria intervention coverage.

Vector control Specialist/Medical Entomologist- consultant recruited.

The first vector control conference held with state Director Generals, malaria coordinators and M&E officers.

Recommendations on addressing malaria vector control challenges published- Chanda et al., 2013.

The Malaria Programme Review process and follow-up MIS concluded.