Local authorities in South Sudan’s Eastern Nile State have complained about deteriorating health conditions due to rising cases of kala-azar disease in most parts of the state.
Kala-azar is a potentially fatal parasitic disease of the internal organs, particularly the liver, spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes due to infection by the parasite called Leishmania donovani.
Jacob Lam Chan, information minister in Eastern Nile state, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that cases of the disease have been recorded in Maban, Baliet, Sobat East and West, Melut and Malakal areas.
He pointed out that the government in collaboration with health organizations have stepped up measures to control the disease. The local official pointed out that they lack medical specialists in the state.
Lam urged the National Ministry of Health and international NGOs to help the people of the Eastern Nile state.