Children fetching dirty water for drinking. |File Photo|.
Through its charity organization, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States government donated over two million Aquatab water purification tablets as part of the humanitarian response to a devastating cholera outbreak in South Sudan.
Since cholera was confirmed in Upper Nile State on October 23, the outbreak has spread rapidly, with more than 13,206 cases and 199 deaths reported as of December 29.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
It is a global public health threat and indicates inequity and lack of social and economic development. Access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene is essential to prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases.
However, media reports indicate that several dead bodies have been disposed of into the river in Jonglei State’s Twic East County, raising concerns about public health threats.
United States embassy has been working with partners, including UNICEF, IOM, MSF, and WHO, to deliver emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, provide life-saving medical care, support vaccination campaigns, provide treatment kits and diagnostic tests, and raise public awareness to curb the spread of cholera.
These tablets, provided through USAID, will treat six million gallons of water, providing safe drinking water to communities most affected by the outbreak.
In addition to these efforts, the United States has committed $200,000 to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support cholera response activities in South Sudan.
The Aquatabs donation and additional funding underscore the United States’ steadfast commitment to supporting the people of South Sudan.
This funding will enhance public awareness campaigns on the dangers of cholera and prevention measures such as safe water use, proper food handling, and good hygiene practices.
It will also strengthen WASH interventions and equip health officials with critical resources to treat cases effectively.
The oil-rich Unity State is among the states affected by the spread of cholera. On Friday, Unity State’s Health Minister Gai Riek confirmed receiving 250,000 doses of cholera vaccines to be used to combat the spread of the disease in the state.
Riek Bim Top, the governor of Unity State, confirmed to this news outlet in December that most of the infected persons fear going to the healthcare centers due to the stigma.
“We are receiving increasing cases of cholera in Bentiu and other parts of the states. The stigma is keeping most of the patients home because they fear shame. A few days ago, we lost Matthew Mathiang Deng, a member of parliament. He died of cholera. I would like to urge the national government and health partners to deliver cholera vaccine to combat the spread of the disease,” Justice Bim said.
Nevertheless, the US government renewed its call on South Sudan’s transitional government to start using public revenue to address its people’s health needs, provide other basic services, and pay public sector salaries for health workers, other civil servants, and security personnel.
South Sudan is facing multiple challenges, including floods, conflict, and climate change. The civil war in Sudan worsens the humanitarian situation in South Sudan as the number of refugees and returnees keeps increasing, depleting the limited resources.
