Saving lives and empowering communities in South Sudan’s distant areas: Akon’s journey from despair to hope

Within the dusty outskirts of Nyamlel in Aweil West County, Northern Bahr el Gazal State, a grandmother’s determined plea for her granddaughter’s life echoed via the corridors of a stabilization middle. Akon Ayom, a 30-month-old lady, lay immobile, her physique swollen from malnutrition, her spirit fading with every passing day.

Akon’s grandmother, a 70-year-old lady, had traveled via unforgiving terrain, in search of aid and therapeutic for her valuable granddaughter. From Chaleek to Warapei after which to Gokmachar, her journey was one in all despair till, lastly, she discovered herself on the doorways of the Nyamlel Major Well being Care Middle.

Upon arrival, hope appeared a distant dream. Akon’s situation was dire – her physique was ravaged by the twin onslaught of malnutrition and measles. However inside the partitions of the stabilization middle, a hope flickered to life, embodied by the devoted crew of healthcare employees on the facility managed by ALIGHT, an implementing companion offering therapy providers.

“Thanks for saving my granddaughter’s life. We went to a number of well being amenities, but it surely was not till we arrived on the Nyamlell Stabilization Middle that we discovered the assistance we would have liked. Akon was unable to face or stroll, however your intervention dramatically improved her situation, and she will now stroll on her personal”, mentioned Akuol Deng Tong, Akon’s grandmother.

Malnutrition is a significant well being challenge for kids underneath 5 in South Sudan. The nation is dealing with a number of public well being crises, together with illness outbreaks, floods, battle, and meals insecurity, contributing to a excessive degree of acute malnutrition (16.0%), exceeding the WHO emergency threshold (15%). The principle drivers are excessive meals insecurity, ailments, poor hygiene, insufficient maternal and childcare, and environmental sanitation providers. Extreme acute losing will increase the danger of demise by 9 instances, and 10-20% of youngsters with this situation will develop life-threatening medical problems.

Akon was affected by extreme acute malnutrition (SAM) in a struggling group. The World Well being Group (WHO) stepped in to offer complete help.

“Because of the US Company for Humanitarian Help, via the Built-in Well being Response to Communities Impacted by Protracted Disaster and Acute Meals Insecurity in South Sudan challenge, WHO is enhancing life-saving providers for kids battling extreme acute malnutrition with medical problems in South Sudan’s stabilization facilities by offering life-saving extreme acute malnutrition medical kits, capability constructing, monitoring, and supportive supervision for healthcare employees” mentioned Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Consultant for South Sudan. Along with the implementing companions, we’re guaranteeing each youngster dealing with extreme acute malnutrition with medical problems receives life-saving care, paving the best way for a more healthy, brighter tomorrow.

The Stabilization Centre (SC) in Nyamlell PHCC has tremendously helped the group. It offers providers for kids with extreme acute malnutrition, particularly for returnees coming from Sudan who’re settling in Wetwill. The Stabilization Middle shortly manages instances referred from Nyamlel PHCC and Wetwill, saving the lives of many youngsters. Moms or caregivers of admitted youngsters obtain each day well being schooling and counseling on particular matters. They’re stimulated with toys and TV play toys for psychosocial help and optimistic conduct change.

Akon’s journey from the brink of demise to the heat of restoration was nothing wanting miraculous. Managed by the expert nurses educated by WHO, she obtained lifesaving therapies and care. The availability of important medical kits, therapeutic feeds, and meals ration from UNICEF and the World Meals Programme (WFP) ensured that no stone was left unturned in her path to therapeutic.

Technical contact:
Dr Lucy Meseka, Electronic mail: mesekal [at] who.int