By Yiep Joseph
Funding constraints are threatening efforts to combat a surging cholera outbreak, where cases are rapidly increasing.
In a statement released on February 27th, CARE-south Sudan, emphasized the urgent need for intervention.
“The crisis (cholera) continues to escalate as new cases emerge daily. With severe flooding, ongoing conflict, and a fragile health system, communities now face the added threat of this rapidly spreading and deadly outbreak,” the statement partly read.
The organization urged the donors and government to insert more efforts in supporting partners involved in helping the communities at this critical time.
“CARE South Sudan is calling on donors and the international community to prioritize funding for cholera response efforts and an immediate and significant increase in international funding to support vaccination campaigns and implement comprehensive community-centered interventions,” it read.
“This will ensure communities have access to safe water, sanitation, and medical care to prevent further loss of life,” the statement read.
According to CARE, South Sudan is facing an alarming cholera outbreak, with over 26,800 infections and 455 deaths across 39 counties in eight states.
However, the organization did not reveal how much they need in the fight against the cholera outbreak, including how much they have utilized in the fight.
Last year, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) urgently called on local authorities and national and international humanitarian organizations to immediately scale up the response to the rapidly escalating cholera outbreak in South Sudan, especially in the camps for internally displaced people.
The medical charity said persistent chronic gaps in healthcare, funding cuts, dire water and sanitation conditions, and gaps in other essential services have created the perfect conditions for the disease to spread.
First declared on 28 October in Upper Nile State, the outbreak has since spread to many states while the number of cases continues to increase.