A surgical campaign has begun in Western Equatoria State to treat more than 40 men suffering from a debilitating condition called hydrocele, linked to lymphatic filariasis.
The initiative in the town of Yambio is led by the state’s health ministry with support from charities and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Health teams aim to restore “dignity, health, and hope” for affected individuals, officials said.
Lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic disease spread by mosquitoes, can cause severe swelling in the limbs and genitals.
The current campaign, which launched on 29 November, focuses on four counties: Maridi, Yambio, Nzara, and Ezo.
It involves training surgeons, screening patients, and providing free operations and aftercare.
So far, over 60 people have been screened at Yambio State Hospital, with 40 patients from Yambio and Nzara undergoing surgery. A further 20 are awaiting operations.
Consultant surgeon John Chol Ajack, leading the medical team, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the primary target was adults over 20, but surgeons had also operated on boys aged 16 and younger due to the condition’s prevalence.
“This surgery restores their dignity and brings them back to normal life,” Dr Chol said, noting many patients faced stigma.
He said the team had worked in the region before, including in Yambio in 2021, and plans to move next to Ezo County to operate on 30 more patients.
All treatment, care, food, and accommodation are provided free of charge.
The Medical Director of Yambio State Hospital, Dr Konjo Samuel, said the operations were proceeding well with no reported deaths.
“Most of the cases are men, but we have also operated [on] two young boys,” he said.
Patients expressed relief after their surgery.
James Anikpara from Nzara County said he had lived with the condition for five years. “I suffered a lot, but now the pain is gone,” he said.
Another patient, James Siro, who was operated on last Tuesday, urged others to come forward for treatment.
Lymphatic filariasis remains endemic in parts of South Sudan.