Western Equatoria Minister of Health Nagomoro Bridget has reported malnutrition cases in various areas owing to a lack of primary healthcare for mothers and children in the state.
This comes after a report of about 29 cases of malnourished children in Yambio and Nzara counties.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Bridget said: “We haven’t yet compiled any report, but there was a guy from UNICEF…. he came to look into the cases of Yambio and Nzara.”
The state minister admitted that there are cases of malnourished children but said they could not confirm the overall number due to lack of statistical surveys, sayign recent reports by aid groups are not exhaustive.
The health minister called for more surveys in an attempt to determine the total number of the malnourished children. She predicted that the number could be higher than 29.
Separately, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric reported that “following weeks of fighting and displacement, a humanitarian team has reached about 24,000 displaced people in South Sudan’s Maridi County in Western Equatoria State with child protection, health, nutrition, water and sanitation support.”
He aid aid agencies have also reached neighbouring Mundri East and West counties, also in Western Equatoria, to conduct a rapid needs assessment and deliver health supplies and equipment.
“The assessment team estimates that around 50,000 people are displaced and urgently need food, water, shelter and healthcare in the two counties. Reaching people in need of assistance in Western Equatoria has been challenging, as most people are hiding in the bush and have deserted the main villages,” said Dujarric in remarks in New York on Monday.