The rate of malaria and respiratory infections are on the rise in South Sudan’s border town of Kaya, a local health worker said.
Simon Peter, a clinical officer at Kaya Primary Healthcare Center, told Tamazuj Thursday that at least 204 cases of malaria, among them children under five and pregnant mothers were recently recorded.
He said many people either lacked mosquito nets or misused them. “We recently tested 204 patients positive with malaria,” he said.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is preventable and curable.
Peter further said respiratory infections are also common among children.
“Children and women are very vulnerable to malaria; these common diseases are affecting them. But for respiratory infection, it’s common among children,” he said.
Malaria, according to the clinical officer, is also among soldiers.
He said, “Malaria is also common among the soldiers because they often move from one place to another without mosquito nets”.
Meanwhile, Peter urged the locals to make correct use of mosquito nets and ensure malaria cases are reported to health facilities early.
He appealed to the health ministry and its partners to stock the health facility with enough drugs ahead of the heavy rain seasons.
Kaya, a town in South Sudan’s Yei River State, is located near the border of Uganda.