In Juba and its surrounding suburbs, the sight of street dogs roaming freely has become a normalized part of daily life. They wander across busy intersections, loiter near market stalls, and curl up in residential compounds.
For many, they are simply part of the urban landscape. But beneath this familiarity lies a growing public health concern that authorities can no longer afford to ignore.
Most of these dogs are visibly sick. Mange, open sores, and emaciated bodies are common. Some limp from untreated injuries; others show signs of advanced skin disease.
Yet in many neighbourhoods, children still play with them; petting, feeding, and sometimes sharing space with animals that may carry zoonotic infections. The innocence of these interactions masks the potential danger.
While Juba has not recorded widespread incidents of dog bites, the recent death of a man in Aweil following a dog attack should serve as a wake-up call. Rabies, a fatal disease transmitted through bites and scratches, remains endemic in parts of South Sudan.
The absence of reported cases in Juba may reflect underreporting rather than safety. In communities where access to health care is limited and awareness of animal-borne diseases is low; exposure risks are often invisible until tragedy strikes.
The issue is not just medical; it is institutional. South Sudan lacks a coordinated urban animal control policy. There are no visible vaccination campaigns, no public education drives, and no municipal shelters.
Veterinary services are scarce, and enforcement mechanisms are virtually non-existent. In the absence of regulation, street dogs multiply, suffer, and interact freely with humans, especially children.
This is not a call for mass culling. Humane solutions exist. Municipal authorities, in collaboration with public health experts and civil society, can initiate targeted interventions.
These include vaccination drives, sterilization programs, and public awareness campaigns. Schools can be engaged to educate children on safe behavior around animals. Communities can be mobilized to report sick or aggressive dogs. Veterinary units can be equipped to respond.
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation must treat this issue as a cross-sectoral priority. The risks posed by street dogs are not limited to bites; they include the spread of parasites, skin infections, and psychological trauma following attacks.
In a country already grappling with fragile health systems, prevention is far more cost-effective than emergency response.
Moreover, the presence of sick and suffering animals reflects broader governance gaps. Just as uncollected garbage signals municipal neglect, so too do unchecked street dog populations.
Addressing this issue is not only about protecting citizens; it is about restoring dignity to urban management.
South Sudan’s urban future must be one where children can play without fear, where animals are treated humanely, and where public health is safeguarded through proactive governance. The time to act is now before silence turns into crisis.