Acute Watery Diarrhoea Epidemic in Juba

Feb 22, 2006 (JUBA, South Sudan) — On 22 February, 2006, health authorities reported that 2,165 cases had been admitted to four hospitals operating in Juba. Of those cases, 47 have died. The rate of new cases is estimated at 300 daily, although precise numbers are difficult to obtain. The Acute Watery Diarrhoea outbreak, first reported on Feb. 6, 2006 is mainly attributed to poor water and sanitation combined with a high population density.

In response to the recent outbreak in South Sudan, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) and the Netherlands Red Cross are supporting the Sudanese Red Crescent in its efforts to prevent further outbreaks of the disease in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The Red Cross Societies of Germany, Spain, Denmark and Austria are important partners supporting Sudanese Red Crescent and Federation activities in Sudan.

International aid, coordinated by the Ministry of Health, is beginning to slow the impact of the disease. UNICEF and WHO have been the major players in the campaign to halt the outbreak, with the assistance of a large number of NGO’s. The Sudanese Red Crescent has played a major preventive role by mobilizing volunteers to teach health education in households, distribute oral rehydration solutions and encourage people to improve sanitation, especially in public and market places. UNICEF has been a major supplier of the items distributed by the SRCS volunteers.

The Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers have formed house to house hygienic promotion teams in the residential areas of Juba. More than 4,528 households have been visited. Targeting five to seven family members per household it is estimated that up to 31,696 people will be reached. That would represent about one quarter of the population of Juba and the surrounding area. The volunteers are performing to the very high standard that is the hallmark of the Red Crescent.

The Netherlands Red Cross is helping the very badly affected Gumbo area with support of the Red Crescent volunteers. Altogether about 165 volunteers are working in this operations. The Federation covers all operational costs of volunteers, including training, transport, tools and will mobilize to provide other requirements such as chlorine, Watsan Emergency Relief Units and other commodities as the need arises. The Federation will launch a preliminary appeal to resource the requirement to respond to this outbreak