9 deaths and hundreds of cases of cholera epidemic in White Nile State

Moatinoon
The cholera epidemic has spread widely in the city of Kosti, and hospitals in the cities of Kosti and Rabak have received more than 700 cases so far. The authorities in White Nile State issued a decision to close restaurants, cafeterias, and shops selling vegetables and fruits in locations adjacent to hospitals starting today, Friday, until further notice, in anticipation of the transmission of the infection.

The Preparatory Committee of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate said in a statement yesterday that cholera has returned again in light of the war that has been going on for nearly two years, amid deteriorating health and nutritional conditions.

The committees statement stated that Kosti Hospital received more than 600 cases of watery diarrhea, most of which were cholera infections, while Rabak Hospital received 47 confirmed cholera cases during the past two days, in addition to 110 suspected cases that have not yet been confirmed.

The committee confirmed the death of at least 9 cases, and called on everyone to work to prevent the increase in deaths, through early treatment and following preventive methods.

It warned that the spread of cholera represents an additional challenge to the health crisis in Sudan, in light of the exhausted health system that is already struggling to cope with the high rates of malnutrition among children, the increasing number of war wounded, and the ongoing outbreak of preventable diseases.

It said that health institutions are facing a severe shortage of intravenous solutions and other medical supplies. It appealed to international organizations working in the field of health, most notably the World Health Organization, the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and others, to intervene urgently to support the efforts of the Ministry of Health and popular efforts, so that the epidemic can be controlled before it spreads to other states, and to avoid the loss of more precious lives.