Officials at the Imehejek Administrative Area of Eastern Equatoria State are calling on humanitarian partners and well-wishers to intervene as cholera cases surge.
Over the weekend, the area experienced several deaths, with many people hospitalized due to the cholera outbreak.
“It is serious, nine people have already died, and over 40 people are struggling in the hospital. This situation has been so common, and we need intervention. People need to be helped out.” Lobeli said
He expressed that the available first aid essentials media have been overwhelmed, severely hampering healthcare delivery. As a result, the population is enduring significant suffering, underscoring the urgent need for immediate intervention.
The administrator urged the national government and the partners to scale up supply for cholera control medication as the situation gets out of hand.
“We appeal for more medicines; our people are suffering, they need more glucose, and we urge the partners to bring more to the area,” he said.
Lobeli narrated that as health officials gather more samples in the area, more numbers will continue; hence, there is a need for more plans.
According to him, many people have been suffering in silence in their houses.
He urged the residents to report the cholera cases to the nearest hospital in order for them to get help.
The administrator reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure that the necessary assistances are available to the community.
He said the state government is yet to schedule the date for cholera vaccination in order to help those who are still healthy in order to protect them.
Torit County Health Surveillance Officer Paul Alhaj Peter Rogashiano went with a team to investigate the cholera outbreak in areas bordering Uganda; this was after suspicion of the outbreak.
This month, Eastern Equatoria State’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, launched an oral cholera vaccination campaign targeting 227,100 people in Torit County.
Since the cholera outbreak began in April, the state has recorded 1,344 cholera cases, including 59 deaths, with 18 patients still hospitalized, officials said.
Nationally, South Sudan has reported 79,000 cholera cases and over 1,400 deaths since the epidemic began in September 2024.