Juba ‒ Cecilia Achuwor, a 38-year-historical mom of six young people, is notion to be one of many millions of refugees and returnees who have crossed the border into South Sudan since the starting up of the battle in neighbouring Sudan 16 months ago. “My husband stays in Khartoum,” she says. “We separated from him with out any communication. He doesn’t know the build we’re and we additionally don’t know the build he’s. I’m right here on my own with the young people, and they’re all ailing,” she says.
Achuwor, a South Sudanese national, is at a transit centre near Renk, a runt town that borders Sudan to the north. For the reason that starting up of the Sudanese battle, nearly 60% of the 600 000 refugees and returnees who have entered South Sudan have executed so by two solutions of entry near Renk. Extra no longer too prolonged ago, a contemporary battle has begun correct to the east of Renk, and humanitarian crew have reported people arriving on foot by the bush.
“WHO, health authorities and imposing partners are participating on a regular basis to inform health services to refugees and returnees hoping for the next life.” Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative, South Sudan
“In build of coming from an assert esteem, declare, Khartoum that had stunning entry by road, now we’re seeing people actually walking into South Sudan for care and protection,” says Dr Brendan Deenan, World Health Group (WHO) Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer in South Sudan. “So, the jam is worse than it was beforehand, and we’re seeing many health challenges, humanitarian challenges, and protection challenges on a on a regular basis basis.”
Refugees and returnees usually present with a vary of infectious diseases, as smartly as chronic diseases. “As a minimal 50% of the situations are communicable diseases. Malaria is on prime of the record, adopted by acute respiratory tract infections and we’re seeing a upward push in acute watery diarrhoea,” says Dr William Nazario, a physician with World Scientific Corps.
Meanwhile, Dr Ayuel Deng, Scientific Officer for Renk County highlights that more and more people are presenting with hypertension, diabetes and cancers and require chronic medication and specialist services.
WHO is supporting county health authorities to coordinate the health response for returnees and refugees. At two transit centres near Renk, the Group is offering supportive supervision to about a health businesses ‒World Scientific Corps, Reduction World and World Vision World ‒ who inform primary health care services to 4000 refugees and returnees per week.
This has helped to be clear higher entry to health services for these inclined populations, who must suffer sophisticated situations at the transit centres. “The carrier right here is stunning” says Nailla Elhadi Hamid, a 40-year-historical refugee from Sudan. “I even introduced my son right here, who’s ailing with malaria, and the medication is accessible. Before that, my sister had glance anxiety and he or she realized the medication was additionally available.”
Following a cholera outbreak in Sudan in September 2023, WHO has expert around 92 health care crew from health services around Renk in cholera surveillance, prevention, remedy and adjust. The Group has established a cholera screening centre at the Wunthou point of entry. Since December 2023, 320 000 people were assessed by health crew right here, no longer only for cholera, but additionally various infections diseases and health situations. “We additionally present oral rehydration resolution as a result of build people have near from, they’re historical.” says John Toch, a clinical nurse at the centre.
“The carrier right here is stunning. I introduced my son right here, who’s ailing with malaria, and the medication is accessible.” Nailla Elhadi Hamid, refugee
For the reason that originate of the battle, WHO has additionally disbursed 119 metric hundreds clinical provides and equipment to handle 680 000 people, in conjunction with kits for a vary of infectious diseases and malnutrition. As phase of its imperfect-border collaboration, WHO South Sudan nation office in partnership with the WHO Sudan nation office delivered 51 metric hundreds emergency health kits to reach 830 000 people residing in battle-affected communities near the border. “We the truth is treasure WHO, due to they enhance us plenty in phrases of provides to our partners,” says Deng.
“WHO, health authorities and imposing partners are participating on a regular basis to inform health services to refugees and returnees hoping for the next life,” says Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative in South Sudan. “Without our donors this would no longer be imaginable. So, working alongside side others, WHO will continue to enhance the health emergency response in South Sudan.”
