World Health Organization Provides Support for Cholera Outbreak Response Initiative in South Sudan

Report: Alnaeim Mubarak Kuol

With the worsening cholera outbreak and increasing reported cases in many areas of South Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided support to South Sudan with cholera outbreak management tools.

The support included 1,841 boxes of Ringer’s lactate solution, 430 boxes of normal saline solution, in addition to 35 cholera central kits, investigation tools, and personal protective equipment.

The most affected areas are in Renk and Rubkona in Unity State, with good reports coming from Yirol East, Yirol West, and Awerial counties.

The WHO’s response initiative has helped save the lives of more than 6,700 reported cholera patients in South Sudan so far.

This project is being implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to facilitate essential health services that are critical for saving lives in areas where cholera is widespread.

Field Visit

A team from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Health of Central Equatoria State, and the Acting Representative of WHO – South Sudan visited to assess the Amadi Primary Health Care Center and the Gorom Primary Health Care Center in Rajaf Payam.

The field team consisted of the South Sudan Ministry of Health, the State Ministry of Health, WHO – Republic of South Sudan, UNICEF South Sudan, Health Link South Sudan, Save the Children International, and other partners. The team assessed the facilities to identify necessary new cholera management sites and support the Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) campaign at the Protection of Civilians site.