By Jacob Onuha Nelson
At least 23 people were confirmed dead, and dozens were admitted to Lobira Boma of Isoke Payam of Ikotos County in Eastern Equatoria State as suspected cholera cases surged.
In an interview with this outlet, Fidele Otwari, the Chief of Lobira Boma, expressed worries as the community continues to lose their loved ones.
He revealed that several people died as the cholera devastated the area.
“There are 13 kids and 10 adults confirmed dead in the village as dozens are still admitted to Isoke Hospital,” Otwari wept.
Otwari exclaimed the cholera disease has continued to threaten the area since September.
“There is no improvement of this sickness; youth are tired of carrying patients every day from the village to Isoke for further treatment,” he noted the situation.
Dominic Ojum, the chairman of Youth in the Lobira community, reiterated worries, citing that many people continue to fall sick.
“Whenever the patients are carried with the youth to rescue, some patients may die on the way to Isoke Hospital. The distance from the village is what causes most of the patients to die on the way for treatment,” Ojum said.
He expressed that the suspected cholera traumatization had caused the communities to stay in fear of being close with the patients at the critical time.
Ojum expressed that due to the shortage of medicines, the youth continue, and members of the community continue to contribute in order to purchase medicines.
that the community once contributed some amount of money and purchased the medicine, but unfortunately the medicine got finished as the disease was still attacking the community.
“The youth tried to contribute money to purchase the medicines, but the medicine got finished while the sickness kept on increasing with this little medicine rendered to the community to rescue the situation,” he noted.
The community leader reaffirmed that the patients are in need of medicines and preventive measures to stop the ongoing disease outbreak.
“We urge the government to render humanitarian assistance,” he urged the state government.
However, earlier this year, South Sudan’s cholera has reached a critical level that affects more than 40,000 children, including 20,000 under the age of five, placing millions more at serious risk.