Highlights
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed the cholera outbreak.
As of 25 July, a total of 294 suspected cholera cases including 17 deaths have been reported nationwide, with the majority reported in Juba County.Latrines in the UN House Protection of Civilian (POC) sites are filling up fast as a result of the regular rains; keeping up with desludging of the latrines is a key to maintain adequate sanitation.
UNICEF is addressing it with intensified desludging work.UNICEF has completed construction of 40 stances of semipermanent latrines in the UNMISS Tomping site, having contributed to attain the Sphere Standards of one latrine for 50 people.
Education activities have resumed in the UNMISS Tomping site, with 1,080 children registered and the number of temporary learning spaces (TLSs) and volunteer teachers has been increased to support the activities.
Humanitarian Overview
Cholera outbreak has been confirmed by MoH in Juba after 10 of the samples (77 per cent) tested positive for Vibrio Cholera Inaba in the National Public Health Laboratory. As of 25 July, a total of 294 suspected cholera cases including 17 deaths have been reported nationwide, with the majority reported in Juba County. An outbreak investigation team just returned from Terekeka on 25 July, where 12 cases and five deaths from suspected cholera infection have been reported. Stool samples were collected for culture test. Although there has been the cut off of radio communication from Duk, Jonglei for 10 days, a team managed to visit the location by boat from Bor, where 32 cases and four deaths have been reported. In addition, two cases in Maban and one case in Torit have been reported respectively. Rain is exacerbating the situation, undermining sanitation efforts and threatening to further the spread of cholera.
Humanitarian Response
A daily coordination meeting has been instituted by the MoH Cholera Task Force, with joint biweekly WASH and Health cluster meetings was instituted too. A mapping matrix has been developed to show who (which organization) does what activities where; gaps identified in affected areas will be shared to ensure coordinated responses.
Given the increase in number of cases with limited spaces at the Juba Teaching Hospital, the task force is to open additional cholera treatment centres (CTCs) in most affected locations in Juba. In the meantime, preparations are underway to open a rehabilitation and stabilization center at Al Sabah Children’s Hospital.