S. Sudan: Increase in Lakes State malaria cases
August 28, 2012 (RUMBEK) – Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state, has reported a dramatic increase in cases of malaria.
Speaking from Rumbek hospital, Chol urged humanitarian organisations working in the state to support the government in combating the disease.
“This is the duty of [the] health minister; to really make sure that all payams [districts] and counties in Lakes state have received [antimalarial] drugs,” said Chol.
According to a nurse at the hospital, there are not enough beds to accommodate all the malaria patients. She also said that most of the cases are in children and the elderly.
Chol noted during his tour that the malaria patients are “all admitted under trees because the malaria ward is full.”
Mading Kachol, a Doctor in Lakes State, explained that due to heavy rains there has been an increase in the number of cases of malaria. He urged citizens of the state to use mosquito nets in order to reduce the chances of contracting the disease.
He also called upon people to bring themselves or those around them to the hospital during the early symptoms of malaria, in order to improve the chances of successful treatment.
(ST)