Duk County in Jonglei State has run short of life-saving drugs amidst rising malaria and pneumonia cases, local authorities and residents said. 

Several patients told Radio Tamazuj from Duk on Wednesday that they get no treatment at the main facility in the county. 

Mary Chol, one of the patients, said she brought her baby to the facility on Wednesday morning only to be diagnosed with malaria but no medication. 

“I did not get even a pain killer for my baby. I came here since morning,” she complained. 

Another patient, Peter Kuor Ruac said he only uses traditional drugs after he failed to get medication for his illness at the facility.  

For his part, Peter Mathiang, the acting county health director, said they did not receive any drug consignment for three months as cases of malaria and pneumonia increase due to floods. 

“Common diseases are malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea. This is because floodwaters which residents rely on are very dirty for domestic use. We lack access to clean drinking water," he said. 

The health official added, “Though there are no drugs at the facility, locals keep on coming. In a day, we receive about 200 patients, the majority of whom have pneumonia and diarrhea.”

Mathiang appealed to the government and its partners to intervene. 

Meanwhile, Elijah Manyok, the acting county commissioner, said they did not receive their medical consignment for months because the county is cut off by floods. 

“Government and well-wishers can access Duk through the air. We appeal to them to supply drugs so that they save our lives, “ he stressed. 

 Dr. Bol Chaw, the medical director of Bor State Hospital, admitted that there is a shortage of drug supplies in the state due to floods.