Feb 6, 2006 (NAIROBI) — The United Nations children’s fund (UNICEF) said here Monday it was rushing emergency health supplies to control deadly diarrhea outbreak in Yei town of southern Sudan which has claimed 12 lives.
In a statement issued in Nairobi, UNICEF also said it was appealing for 20.3 million U.S. dollars for water, sanitation and hygiene programs in southern Sudan for 2006 as part of the UN and Partners Work Plan launched last December.
UNICEF said the exact nature of the outbreak is under investigation and further samples are to be collected and tested in the laboratories of neighboring Kenya.
"UNICEF has rushed emergency health supplies to the busy crossroads town of Yei in southern Sudan to respond to a deadly outbreak of acute watery diarrhea that has claimed the lives of 12 people, two of them children, among over 600 known cases," the statement said.
The outbreak was first reported last Saturday with three deaths and 48 patients admitted in local health facilities.
The disease ripped rapidly through the town, leaving hundreds of people needing medical attention - about half of them children.
Reports say the outbreak has now reached at least one outlying village.
"UNICEF moved swiftly to draw on its stores in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan, and a truck carrying life-saving supplies arrived in Yei on February 4 to replenish the hospital in Yei which had run out of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and IV fluids," it said.
The UN agency said it was mobilizing medical and water and sanitation stocks as part of a coordinated response including UN agencies and local and international NGOs, and led by the government of southern Sudan’s health authorities.
A broad effort was also being mounted by UN agencies in Yei to enhance access to clean water and sanitation as well as launch public awareness campaigns about the importance of good hygiene and clean water which include house-to-house visits, it said.
"Water storage bladders, thousands of jerry cans, buckets, chlorine and soap are also being dispatched by road from UNICEF stores in Rumbek today," said UNICEF.
Clean water supply in the vast region which emerged from 21 years of civil strife last year, is generally lacking, with less than a third of the population having access to a safe source.
Very limited sanitation facilities and a generally poor hygiene situation worsen the threat. Diarrhea is a major killer of children.
(Xinhua)
Latest Comments & Analysis
On the legitimacy of President Salva Kiir 2021-04-04 17:15:11 by Dr Akec Khoc On March 24th 2021, Nhial Deng Nhial, Minister of Presidential affairs stated that President Salva Kiir is not imposing himself on the citizens. In response to this statement, I (...)
UN Security Council urges South Sudan to establish Hybrid Court 2021-03-23 13:36:41 Council Stresses Need for Justice, Rights Monitoring, Civilian Protection by Nyagoah Tut Pur South Sudan should heed last week’s call from the UN Security Council to establish a hybrid court (...)
Celebrate the elimination of racial discrimination 2021-03-21 17:42:59 Let us Honour and Celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its 55th Anniversary on SUNDAY, March the 21st 2021 By Mahmoud A. Suleiman Do we know that (...)
MORE