The director general in the Ministry of Health in the proposed Lol State Dominic Athian Dut says that malnutrition cases among children and mothers is on rise in the state.
Lol State is one of 28 controversial successor governments to the 10 states established by the country’s constitution, comprising parts of the former Northern and Western Bahr al Ghazal States in South Sudan’s far northwest.
Athian is calling on the World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian agencies in the area to distribute nutritional foods. He pointed out that the increase comes as a result of growing poverty.
“More intervention is needed because the malnutrition rate in Aweil West and Aweil North currently is ranging from 20% – 22%. This actually internationally is an emergency line though our partners on the ground are doing their best also in trying to make sure that they really intervene by distributing food to the mothers and children.”
Athian explained, “However this is not enough with this season which is worrying now from July to August the situation may get worsen because the gallon of sorghum yesterday in the market was around 150 SSP of which so many don’t afford.”
He also urged humanitarian organization to assess the health situation after all health facilities in Raja recently were attacked and looted by armed men whom the state government described as bandits.
Some sources said that the attackers were opposed to the creation of Lol State, rejecting it as illegitimate. They briefly overran Raja last month and forced the state government to relocate to Nyamlel.
“We are actually worried about the people of Raja and we will be happy if our people are given humanitarian attention and assistance because nothing was left when Raja was attacked. Everything was looted ranging from medical supplies and equipment. Now the population there are suffering from common diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea cases, ARI rate of malnutrition are high,” said Athian.
He appreciated the efforts exerted by International Medical Corps in supplying drugs to Raja main hospital.
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