By Hou Akot Hou
The Ministry of Health and the partners have launched a health awareness drive in Aweil town, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.
According to the officials, the drive that targeted over 100 community members to act as change makers was organized by Women Empowerment and the South Sudan Center with the South Sudan Red Cross, other health partners, and the state Ministry of Health.
On the occasion of the annual awareness drive, the partners organized a symposium that brought together more than 100 women, youth, chiefs, and government officials to deliberate on health hazards that the local people face in the state.
Speaking during the event, Luka Lual Aleu Jok, the health education focal point, revealed that Northern Bahr El Gazal has recorded 192 cases of Hepatitis E since 2024 to date, with 30 reported cases from the disease.
Aleu attributed the rise or increase of the infection to poor disposal of the human wastes, as those Hepatitis E patients come into contact with the water and other foodstuffs at home that the uninfected individuals use, hence passing on the infection.
“Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease; when the waste of an infected person mixes with water and the uninfected person drinks that, then he catches it. Also, a hepatitis E patient can spread it easily if he or she touches food without washing hands with soap with the uninfected; then the disease is transmitted as well,” said Lual.
Aleu said the disease is so pervasive and urged people to turn up for tests so that those affected can get isolated in the health centers or Aweil Civil Hospital.
“192 is already confirmed officially by the MOH here in the state with 30 death cases. And what MSF has done since its confirmation is that they have been putting those confirmed positive in isolation, and more needs to be done so that people know that it is only through keeping ourselves safe by following the health education precautions or methods that we can avoid the communicable infections such as this one, which has become pervasive,” Lual warned.
During the symposium deliberation held on Thursday in Aweil Town, which saw local government officials such as the Aweil Town mayoral official, the road and bridges official, and a health official at the meeting, Garang Dau challenged the town mayor’s authority for doing little to ensure that the laws are enforced in the hotels and other local restaurants so that foodstuffs are being kept tidy and cooks observe the rules of health.
“Some people in the market work in the restaurant with unkempt hair and dirty clothes, and also foods are left uncovered, and the breads or loaves being served are not clean. What health do we expect to obtain in such delicacies?” he said.
In response, the officials from the Aweil Town municipality who were invited to represent their colleagues said they would shoulder the roles of moving from shop to shop to do more inspection on matters related to poor hygiene.
It remains to be seen whether the recommendations that the officials discussed with members of the community will materialize.