Kala-Azar Infection On Increase: MSF

This article was last updated on May 26, 2022

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A press statement released said that, the cases are high in northern Jonglei and Upper Nile States where MSF is currently treating hundreds of them. 

In the Lankien health facility alone, MSF teams have treated nearly 360 kala azar patients in October 2013, higher than the last major peak of 2010. 

“A greater percentage of the new patients we have admitted for kala azar in the past three months are children, most of whom are malnourished. We are also treating adults, but our main concern now is that most patients are arriving late to the clinic, especially those coming from far away locations,” says Alison Buchanan, MSF’s kala azar specialist in Lankien.

As its part of intervention, MSF said it has set up treatment centres in eight locations in northern Jonglei, and support Malakal Teaching Hospital in Upper Nile State.

“Together with the Ministry of Health and other health agencies, the current strategy is to bring diagnostic and treatment services closer to the communities to improve access, facilitate early diagnosis and treatment and thereby save lives”, say Raphael Gorgeu, MSF Head of Mission.

However, with a limited number of health facilities, no other means of transport, and inaccessible roads, many patients suffering from the disease are forced to walk long distances to access treatment, with some arriving late, and often in terrible condition.

Chool Jock, a 24 year-old woman, too weak to walk, was carried on a stretcher by her family members to the MSF hospital in Lankien.. They walked for 12 hours. 

“The journey is long, and not safe, so I waited for my brothers to take me to the hospital. As two of us were sick in the family, my younger sister in a worse condition than I, got the first priority, and then they later came back for me,” says Chool.

“These patients know of no other medical facilities around here. They need to know where else they can seek treatment, so that they reach us earlier,” adds Alison.

MSF operation it is expecting to treat in total more than 1500 patients.

There are fears that, with the remoteness of the areas, more patients could be suffering silently in areas where they due to lack of access of health facilities.