The local authorities in Torit County’s Hiyalla Payam in Eastern Equatoria State have sounded an alarm over an unknown disease that has been afflicting children for the last three days. However, a local health worker clarified that it was severe malaria and watery diarrhea afflicting the children.
Lt. Col. Simplicio Oliha, the commander of the SSPDF’s Justice and Peace Mission based in Hiyalla, told Radio Tamazuj that one infant has died and many others are in critical condition at the health center in Hiyalla which is understocked with medicines. He said the situation has become worrisome and called for expeditious government intervention.
“We have had a bad issue here since Wednesday. A disease is attacking children and they are vomiting and have severe diarrhea and is killing children immediately. It affects children below 3 years and there are children in the hospital but there are no drugs,” he explained. “Those who do not have money to take their children to Torit for better medical care take them back home. Some are on the road waiting for boda-bodas to transport their children to Torit. We are requesting that a team be sent here to help the people.”
Lt. Col. Oliha added: “I spoke with the Torit County commissioner and he promised to liaise with the health department but there has been no response till now yet we just lost a child now and more than 20 are suffering in the hospital.”
For his part, Oleyo Godfrey, the clinician at Hiyalla Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) confirmed that a child died but refuted claims of a cholera outbreak in the area. He said acute diarrhea and malaria are not new to the area and urged the community members to remain calm and adhere to good health practices.
“We admitted only two children, we gave them fluids and they are now stable and playing. I am getting calls from the community and different groups of people asking about a cholera outbreak in Hiyalla Payam. I can say that information is not true now because you cannot declare something without taking samples,” he clarified. “So, I can say that is false information because it did not originate from the health facility and we do not know anything like that. What is happening is diarrhea and malaria which is not new to us here at the facility. It has been affecting children throughout and if you check for malaria you will find them positive.”
Oleyo added: “The child who passed away was brought in seriously ill and tested positive for malaria but we did not have any emergency drugs and we wanted to refer the patient to Torit but death robbed us.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Changa Thomas Oker, a medical doctor at Torit State Hospital, urged the communities in Torit County to be careful and maintain hygiene because neighboring counties have confirmed cholera cases.
“In case of anything like that, we do have RDT tests for cholera and we send samples to Juba. There are two patients who we admitted two weeks ago with diarrhea but they tested negative for cholera. If a child has persistent watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and general body weakness, they have to be rushed to the health facility,” he said. “The good thing is that we have a PHCC in Hiyalla with some clinical officers and lab technicians. If the situation is beyond their control, they have to rush the children to the Torit State Hospital. We have a team set up already at the state hospital to tackle cholera cases.”
Dr. Oker added: “We need to be careful to maintain hygiene especially by washing our hands after visiting the toilet, after cleaning a baby’s bottom and properly washing fruits.”
When contacted, Dr Etin Concord, the Director General of health in the state, acknowledged drug shortages and said most facilities are running low on or have run out of drugs. He clarified that medicine consignments for PHCCs come directly from Juba.
“We are aware that many PHCCs lack drugs but they get drugs straight from Juba. We do not have any drugs here at the ministry,” he stated. “I think the second cycle should have arrived but if there was any delay, they should be on the way.”
Torit County Commissioner Christopher Andrew said he was too busy to comment on the matter when contacted by this publication.