Jonglei State, South Sudan – Clean water access, or the lack thereof, is casting a shadow over Nyirol County. Three individuals from Cwil and Pulturuk areas have recently been identified with suspected cases of Guinea worm disease, a development that’s ringing alarm bells among health officials.
In a discussion with Radio Tamazuj, Nyirol County’s Health Director, Tiwtiw Kuon, stressed the prompt actions taken.
“The situation is concerning. Our team has already begun an in-depth examination,” Kuon shared.
However, the water scarcity issue remains at the forefront for James Bol Makuey, the Nyirol County commissioner.
“The scarcity of clean water could potentially amplify this health crisis,” Makuey cautioned.
Jonglei State’s Health Coordinator, Duop Rom Kok, also affirmed the situation. He explained the debilitating effects of Guinea worm disease, also known as Dracunculiasis. This parasitic affliction can be mitigated primarily through clean water consumption and segregating affected individuals from water sources.
With only three cases registered in 2018, down from over 20,000 a decade earlier, South Sudan had made commendable progress against this disease. But, the emerging situation in Nyirol County underscores the ever-present challenge and the indispensable role of clean water in disease prevention.
