Speaking to the Sudans Post via phone from GPAA capital Pibor, Achon John, GPAA minister for health, said the health officials and aid organizations on the ground are struggling to contain the spread of the disease.
“We have so far registered 2,978, and we have registered 108 death cases with 2,724 recovered from the disease,” said Achon.
“The national ministry of health is collectively working with GPAA ministry of health with support from the implementing partners. We have just received the vaccine, and we are in the process of launching vaccination,” he added.
Achon said most of the locals face significant challenges in terms of access to clean water and sanitation, making it particularly susceptible to outbreaks of this nature.
“Most areas of GPAA have got no clean drinking water, most of them fetch water from the river and drink them without boiling or use chlorine that will help treat the water, this is what am seeing making this disease to escalate rapidly in GPAA,” said Achon.
He added that the majority of those affected are reportedly women and children, who are often more vulnerable to the severe effects of cholera.
Achon said health facilities in the GPAA are overwhelmed, facing shortages of essential medical supplies.
As the number of cholera cases continues to rise, Achon called on the communities in GPAA to boil drinking water before use to avoid the continuous spread of the disease.
GPAA is one of the areas rattled by cholera in Greater Upper Nile. On Wednesday this week, Save the Children announced that at least five children died of cholera while trekking for medical assistance in the Akobo County of Jonglei.
The health crisis has been compounded by the recent aid cuts by the United States government to various programs, including medical supplies to local and international aid groups.
