Africa-Press – South-Sudan. In addition to the surging oil pollution effects that have left negative indelible marks on the people in South Sudan’s oil-rich Unity State, rising cases of Hepatitis E, HIV/AIDs and Kalazar are also worsening the health situation in the state, the authorities have reported.
The Protection of Civilian Sites (PoC) in the capital, Bentiu, was hit by a disease outbreak that left a number of people dead, the medics revealed. However, in 2021, the national Ministry of Health reported that Hepatitis E cases were on the rise after it was detected among internally displaced persons.
This later led the national Ministry of Health (MoH) to declare a Hepatitis E outbreak in the Bentiu internally displaced people (IDP) camp in August 2021.
However, Stephen Tot Chieng, the acting state Minister of Health, told The City Review in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that the latest prevalence of Hepatitis E, HIV/AIDS prevalence and Kalazar cases were becoming serious health concerns besides the oil-related issues in the state.
“People are actually under the threat of these diseases because locals do not protect themselves. For example, in the case of HIV/AIDS, they do not use protective measures like condoms and others, “he revealed on Tuesday.
The 2021 HIV/AIDS prevalence report indicates that over 1,000 cases were reported in the new wave in the town of Bentiu towards the end of the year. Chieng noted that the cases were found among the urban population, both in Bentiu and among the IDPs.
“It is actually rising in Unity State’s headquarters, which is the main city of the state and mostly among the IDP. The estimate is beyond 1,000 people affected. That was just last year alone, “he stated.
But according to the director of the state hospital, Dr. Banen Non, about 1200 have been confirmed this year. Chieng said, although they have consistently thought of scaling up awareness of the prevalence. He revealed that their efforts were being derailed by the lack of available resources.
“We are also experiencing budget cut from the donors. We asked all the humanitarian partners to come in, but no humanitarian responded, “he stated.
“We approached the Hon. Governor to at least request that the oil companies come in to do awareness because things may worsen by April,” a state official said.
Mr. Chieng disclosed that regardless of constraints, they were working hard to ensure campaigns were executed to curb the rising health concerns. “We are planning to make sure that campaigns are carried out, especially the campaigns for HIV/AIDS, plus Hepatitis E and Kalazar,” he concluded.
However, according to the state directors of health, Kalazar disease awareness raising has been conducted previously. However, Hepatitis E and HIV/AIDS remain major concerns.
Other health issues
Previously, cases of snake bites and water-borne diseases were reported to be on the rise in the Unity State, with Panyijar and Mayom Counties taking the lead.
The local residents anticipated that the water-borne diseases could ruin the health situation in the state. According to Gabriel Gatluak, a resident of Bentiu Town, if the sensitization campaigns are not implemented, the citizens will remain in a state of chaos.
“The campaigns would help the people because they will be getting knowledge of how to protect themselves as well as the children. The children can also be also told to prevent themselves, “he said.
In 2021, the number of Hepatitis E cases had risen in the country, moving from 564 reported during 2018/2020 to 1124 suspected cases with five deaths in 2021, according to the authorities.
But currently, at least four cases have been confirmed this year alone in the town of Bentiu. “We are having four cases confirmed, and before this year, a lot of cases were there, especially at the former PoC because the sanitation is very poor,” the minister stated. The state health director said they were looking at the possibility of conducting the awareness campaign sometime this month.
Affected areas
The Hepatitis E outbreak was reported in the whole camp and the former IDP camp in Bentiu Town. “We are now working hand in hand with the health partners hard to bring the vaccine for the Hepatitis E and the vaccine for Kalazaar.” We hope for the best to save lives for our local people affected by all these crises,” Minister Chieng stressed.
Cases of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) have been consistently reported in South Sudan since 2014, with recurrent outbreaks occurring in Bentiu town, Rubkona county, Unity state, where a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) is located.
In the last two years, a total of 1,420 suspected cases were reported, of which 47 were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at the Uganda Viral Research Institute (UVRI), also a viral laboratory. The 2021 outbreak erupted in Unity State, with cases mainly being reported from Bentiu internally displaced persons’ camp.
Statistics among locals
According to the authorities last year, a proportion of 323 cases (28.3%) was reported from outside the camp, in Bentiu and Rubkona towns, alleging continuing transmission or community transmission among the locals.
The then report also reveals that males aged 15-44 years were the most affected, followed by male children aged 1-4 years and females aged 15-44 years.
Bentiu IDP camp hosts over 107,000 people and is divided into five sectors, but the cases were reported from all sectors, highlighting widespread transmission.
Floods crisis
Unity State was also affected by a severe flood that has caused massive displacement and the development of five new IDP sites in the town, coupled with about 30,000 more IDPs hosted in the major Bentiu IDP camp.
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus, transmitted by the faecal-oral route, mainly through contaminated water. It can lead to serious public health impacts, particularly among special populations: those in IDP camps and pregnant women.
Risk factors for HEV are linked to poor sanitation conditions, which allow viruses excreted in the stools of infected individuals to enter water intended for human consumption. However, the cases have surpassed the epidemic threshold levels in 2021.
HIV/AIDs
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is acquired through blood transfusion. The virus attacks the body’s immune system of a human being. If not treated, it can progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), according to medical experts.
Kalazar
Kala-azar, also called visceral leishmaniasis, is a disease in which a parasite migrates to the internal organs such as liver, spleen (hence “visceral”), and bone marrow. If left untreated, it will almost always result in the death of the host.
It is characterised by irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, as well as anaemia. However, the aforementioned health concerns are pinning down the Unity State.
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