The World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up support in Sudan, where authorities have declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref state amid the ongoing brutal conflict between opposing militaries.
Sudan has declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref State, where 264 suspected cholera cases, 4 confirmed cases and 16 associated deaths had been reported by 25 September 2023, the UN said on its official website, Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether cholera has also spread to Khartoum and South Kordofan states, where increased cases of acute watery diarrhea have been reported.
Meanwhile, Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative in Sudan, visited Gedaref State on September 17 and met with health authorities and partners to coordinate the response.
"Unhindered access to affected and neighboring localities is essential to respond effectively to the ongoing outbreak," said Abid, warning that "a cholera outbreak can have a devastating effect in the context of a health system already overstretched because of war, shortages of medical supplies and health workers, malnutrition and access challenges."
Even before the outbreak was declared, WHO had already provided cholera supplies, including antibiotics, oral rehydration solution and intravenous fluids, to 6 states, including Gedaref, Khartoum and South Kordofan, as well as rapid diagnostic test kits to all 18 states of Sudan, reported the UN specialized agency.
As a result of the war that erupted in April, Sudan is grappling with unprecedented mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition, which have been compounded by heavy rains and flooding.
Sudan's health system is overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and the scarcity of medical supplies and equipment, health workers and operational funds. About 70 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected states are non-functional, while the active hospitals and clinics in non-conflict-affected states are overwhelmed by the influx of internally displaced people.
Source: Bahrain News Agency