Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Health of South Sudan on Tuesday confirmed the death of 10 people following a cholera outbreak in Aweil South County.
Speaking to the Sudan Post via phone on Tuesday from Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Kuot Pel Pel, the Aweil South County Health Director, confirmed that the outbreak claimed the lives of 10 last week.
“We have received 4 cases of death in Wath-muok, 3 from Malek-alel, and 3 from the community. The community deaths were reported to us lately, but the 7 cases were seen by the health workers, and they attributed them to delayed treatment,” said Pel.
Pel said several alarming cases of cholera have resulted in fatalities so far, adding that efforts are already underway to contain the outbreak.
“Most of our people delay people in the villages, and whenever someone experiences diarrhea and vomiting, they tend to ignore it,” he said.
“They attempt to cure it traditionally at home, which makes the cases more complicated to treat even if they reach the health facilities.”
He attributed the fatalities to the negligence of community members who chose to rely on traditional home remedies instead of seeking medical treatment.
Mr. Lual Khamis Lual, Deputy Director of the Health Unit in Aweil South, said a severe cholera outbreak has ravaged the country, with the latest reports indicating a staggering 60 people affected.
“Many people are coming from Sudan as both refugees and returnees, but we tell people to report cases of those experiencing cholera to the nearest facility. As cholera is treatable,” Khamis said.
Khamis said they have not reported any fatalities since April.
Mr. Malong Diing Aher, Director General at the state Ministry of Health, urged the communities to take precautionary measures to prevent themselves from contracting the disease.
Diing attributes the situation in Aweil South to poor hygiene, particularly in Wath-muok payam, where residents bathe and drink from the same river.
“I went to Wathmuok and other Payams in Aweil South, and I heard about the 10 deaths last week, and all I found out was shocking. Wath-muok has a river that people use for water consumption, and people bathe in the same source. This is contributing to the outbreak. People need to heed the calls for preventive measures.”
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
