The medical charity Doctors Without Borders said thousands of people in South Sudan are at risk of contracting malaria in the coming months during the annual peak of the disease, which begins in the country’s rainy season.

The aid group also known by its French acronym MSF said in a statement that its teams are preparing to treat thousands of children for malaria in Aweil, located approximately 800 kilometres northwest of Juba.

In Aweil State Hospital, where MSF manages the paediatric and maternity wards, MSF said it recently added 20 paediatric beds, resupplied the pharmacy and organised medical training to prepare its staff for the expected influx of severe paediatric cases.

"During the malaria season, the hospital becomes overcrowded with patients suffering from complicated cases of malaria," said Aline Serin, MSF project coordinator in Aweil.

"What is extremely worrying is that many local health centres have not yet received medicines and supplies to test and treat malaria in the Aweil area. Without prompt testing and treatment, local people are more likely to develop severe malaria, which can be life-threatening, Serin added.

File photo: Abuk Akuoc, 18, receives an IV treatment of quinine for her severe malaria at the government-run health centre in Panthou. (Credit: Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi)