Juba ‒ Cecilia Achuwor, a 38-year-old mom of six kids, is likely one of the tons of of hundreds of refugees and returnees who’ve crossed the border into South Sudan because the starting of the battle in neighbouring Sudan 16 months in the past. “My husband stays in Khartoum,” she says. “We separated from him with none communication. He doesn’t know the place we’re and we additionally don’t know the place he’s. I’m right here alone with the kids, and they’re all sick,” she says.
Achuwor, a South Sudanese nationwide, is at a transit centre close to Renk, a small city that borders Sudan to the north. For the reason that starting of the Sudanese battle, virtually 60% of the 600 000 refugees and returnees who’ve entered South Sudan have finished so via two factors of entry close to Renk. Extra lately, a brand new battle has begun simply to the east of Renk, and humanitarian staff have reported folks arriving on foot via the bush.
“Quite than coming from an space like, say, Khartoum that had good entry by highway, now we’re seeing folks actually strolling into South Sudan for care and safety,” says Dr Brendan Dineen, World Well being Group (WHO) Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer in South Sudan. “So, the scenario is worse than it was beforehand, and we’re seeing many well being challenges, humanitarian challenges, and safety challenges each day.”
Refugees and returnees usually current with a spread of infectious illnesses, in addition to continual illnesses. “At the very least 50% of the circumstances are communicable illnesses. Malaria is on prime of the record, adopted by acute respiratory tract infections and we’re seeing an increase in acute watery diarrhoea,” says Dr William Nazario, a health care provider with Worldwide Medical Corps.
In the meantime, Dr Ayuel Deng, Medical Officer for Renk County highlights that increasingly persons are presenting with hypertension, diabetes and cancers and require continual treatment and specialist companies.
WHO is supporting county well being authorities to coordinate the well being response for returnees and refugees. At two transit centres close to Renk, the Group is offering supportive supervision to 3 well being businesses ‒Worldwide Medical Corps, Reduction Worldwide and World Imaginative and prescient Worldwide ‒ who ship main well being care companies to 4000 refugees and returnees every week.
This has helped to make sure higher entry to well being companies for these susceptible populations, who must endure tough circumstances on the transit centres. “The service right here is sweet” says Nailla Elhadi Hamid, a 40-year-old refugee from Sudan. “I even introduced my son right here, who’s sick with malaria, and the medication is obtainable. Earlier than that, my sister had eye ache and she or he discovered the medication was additionally out there.”
Following a cholera outbreak in Sudan in September 2023, WHO has skilled round 92 well being care staff from well being services round Renk in cholera surveillance, prevention, remedy and management. The Group has established a cholera screening centre on the Wunthou level of entry. Since December 2023, 320 000 folks have been assessed by well being staff right here, not just for cholera, but additionally different infections illnesses and well being circumstances. “We additionally present oral rehydration resolution as a result of the place folks have come from, they’re weak.” says John Toch, a scientific nurse on the centre.
For the reason that begin of the battle, WHO has additionally distributed 119 metric tons of medical provides and tools to deal with 680 000 folks, together with kits for a spread of infectious illnesses and malnutrition. As a part of its cross-border collaboration, WHO South Sudan nation workplace in partnership with the WHO Sudan nation workplace delivered 51 metric tons of emergency well being kits to achieve 830 000 folks dwelling in conflict-affected communities close to the border. “We actually respect WHO, as a result of they assist us loads by way of provides to our companions,” says Deng.
“WHO, well being authorities and implementing companions are collaborating day by day to ship well being companies to refugees and returnees hoping for a greater life,” says Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Consultant in South Sudan. “With out our donors this is able to not be potential. So, working along with others, WHO will proceed to assist the well being emergency response in South Sudan.”