Ngauro Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) in Budi County, Eastern Equatoria State warns it is critically low on life-saving medical supplies.
According to James Lorot, the officer in charge of the health center, 22 new cholera cases were reported over the weekend, bringing the total to 104 cases. Tragically, seven deaths have been recorded, four in the community and three at the facility.
“We’re running out of everything like examination gloves, IV fluids, cholera test kits. Even basic WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) supplies are depleted,” said Lorot.
The health official said health workers are also struggling
with community resistance to public health directives.
Despite government orders to shut down local mining operations, Cholera forces closure of Kapoeta gold mining linked to the spread of the disease many residents continue to return to the sites and engage in risky behaviors, including open defecation. Local authorities closed local mining site
“People are ignoring the warnings. They’ve gone back to
mining and continue unsafe practices at home. This is making our work even
harder,” Lorot added.
Eastern Equatoria’s Health Minister, Thomas Koteen,
confirmed the shortage is not isolated to Ngauro but extends across the Greater
Kapoeta region.
“We’re experiencing delays in supply shipments from Juba.
The entire region is affected, but we are actively working with authorities to
get drugs and protective equipment to the isolation centers,” Koteen assured.