Fears are growing in Yei River County over the government’s ability to protect its citizens from the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Moses Bidali, a lawmaker representing Yei River County in the national assembly said the county’s porous land borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remain a cause of concern.
He expressed fear that movement of people along the common borders could spread the virus.
According to Bidali, authorities are not implementing recent directives on the closure of South Sudan’s borders with its neighbours in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have observed movement of people from Kajo-Keji, Busia, Morobo, Kaya, Bazi, Senema, Lasu and Tokori border areas, which is a serious concern. We need a lot of awareness because coronavirus is a serious case in neighbouring countries,” he said.
The lawmaker urged the government to beef up security as a measure to control unnecessary movements along the porous entry points.
“We also need to inform people to stop illegal transportation of people from the border areas of Uganda into Yei. I am calling on the national taskforce to do more intervention in Yei instead of concentrating its preparedness in Juba,” he stressed.
James Wani, the director general for health in the defunct Yei River State, said despite efforts to create awareness at border points, there are several illegal routes that exist in the area.
“We have told community leaders at the border areas not to allow people to cross from the border areas and those coming from the border should undergo screening. My message to community leaders and elders is that they should provide information on illegal entry points so that there is more intervention,” he said.
South Sudan’s first confirmed case of coronavirus infection was identified on Sunday as a 29-year-old woman who works for the United Nations.