South Sudan’s Ministry of Health has vowed to eradicate guinea worm disease in Western Bahr al Ghazal State in collaboration with its partners in an event organized at Udichi area on Friday.
Guinea worm infects people when they drink water that contains water fleas infected with guinea worm larvae. Initially there are no symptoms but about one year later the person may develops a painful burning feeling as a blister in the skin. The disease is not fatal but may be very painful.
Three people infected by guinea worm received 5,000 South Sudanese pounds each for reporting their cases to the health ministry and its international partners.
Addressing the event in Udichi area, Riek Gai Kok, National Minister of Health, vowed to eradicate the disease, while urging citizens to drink clean water.
For its part, the Carter Centre which is leading efforts to end the disease globally, pledged to support programs to eradicate guinea worm on the African continent.