Sudan grapples with cholera outbreak, conjunctivitis surge amidst rainy season

August 13, 2024 (KASSALA) – Sudan’s health ministry on Tuesday reported a surge in conjunctivitis cases across half the country and a cholera outbreak in three states, as the rainy season exacerbates an already dire health crisis.

The ministry confirmed 268 cholera cases and 17 deaths in Al Jazirah, Khartoum, and Kassala states. Conjunctivitis cases have reached 2,689 across nine states, primarily affecting displaced people in White Nile, Northern, and North Kordofan.

Flooding and heavy rains have impacted over 26,000 people, causing 38 deaths and injuring 265. More than 6,000 homes have been completely destroyed, with nearly 10,000 partially damaged.

The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted healthcare services, leaving many vulnerable to disease outbreaks. The health ministry is working to distribute chlorine and implement sanitation measures, but challenges remain.

Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim chaired an emergency meeting in Kassala to address the crisis. He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts with other agencies to mitigate the impact of the rainy season.

The finance ministry has allocated one billion pounds to the health ministry for increased interventions in affected states, including the provision of intravenous fluids and vector control equipment.

The situation underscores the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and a resolution to the conflict, which has devastated Sudan’s healthcare system and left millions at risk.