Health Link South Sudan Launch Lifesaving Treatment Strategy Targeting IDP Camp

JUBA, 05 April 2015 [Gurtong] – The treatment will target basically sick children suffering from common childhood diseases at community levels within 24 hours of the onset of illness.

Targeting the Mingkaman’s Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs) camp within Awerial County of Lakes state, the ICCM chiefly focuses on Malaria, Diarrhoea and Pneumonia.

The three diseases according to HLSS’ Health Programme Coordinator, Moses Akera are the leading causes of illnesses among children in the camp.

“Malaria, Diarrhoea and Pneumonia are the top causes of morbidity and mortality in the country,” said Akera during the launch of the project.

“The goal of this project is to quickly increase access to correct drugs for treatment of malaria, diarrhoea and Pneumonia.”

HLSS with support from the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), a total of 67 community based drug distributers (CBDs), 12 supervisors and trainers of trainees respectively had successfully been trained in Mingkaman in order to support the treatment of the trio in the community.  

“The CBDs have been trained to correctly identify, treat and help prevent the three diseases as well as screening and referral of cases of acute malnutrition among children from 2-59months. They are also trained to give health education and counseling to care givers of young children,” Akera explained.

The representative of Awerial County’s County Health Department Peter Alier urged HLSS and its partner UNICEF, to expand the ICCM programme to all parts of the county.

Emmanuel Douglas, Director of HLSS urged the IDP and host communities, the CHD and the community leaders to help report and sensitize their members of the availability of CBDs and anti-malarial drugs in the community.

UNICEF’s Awerial County representative John Bono hailed HLSS for exhibiting competence and launching the ICCM programme but challenged the Organization to seek international status so that South Sudanese can also contribute in providing humanitarian assistance to other countries.

Bono said, every two seconds, two children die of malaria as he urged the CBDs to work diligently in preventing malaria and encourage sleeping under mosquito nets.  

At HLSS’ two health facilities in the area, malaria contributes to 27% of illnesses recorded followed by diarrhoea, malnutrition and pneumonia.  

Speaking as chief guest, the County Relief and Rehabilitation Commission coordinator John Parach urged aid agencies not to withdraw from Mingkaman as more than 70,000 IDPs still remain in the camp.

HLSS, a national Non-Governmental Organization, offers comprehensive primary and secondary health services in its site One hospital and site Two PHCC in Mingkaman.