South Sudan commits to global movement to end Neglected Tropical Diseases
South Sudan is making headway towards eradicating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).
The Director-General for Preventive Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr John Rumunu, said on Sunday during an event to mark World Day for NTDs that the country is on a perfect path to fight the diseases.
Dr Rumunu stated that this effort should garner 100 per cent commitment from stakeholders, as well as financial and political commitments, and should be championed by civil society, influencers, and people affected by NTDs.
He said the Ministry of Health is committed to realising the WHO campaign to achieve health equity to end the neglect of poverty-related diseases.
“Today we register our 100 per cent commitment to setting the process to endorse and sign the IGAD Declaration on NTDs,” he said.
South Sudan is endemic to 17 of the 20 neglected tropical diseases prioritised by the World Health Organisation for control, elimination, and eradication since 2017.
NTDs continue to affect 1.7 million people around the world. It is estimated that up to 10 million people in South Sudan are at risk of infection by one or more of these diseases.
Elephantiasis, bilharzia, intestinal worms, river blindness, blinding trachoma, sleeping sickness, Kala-Azar, Buruli ulcer, rabies, mycetomas, and guinea worm are all common tropical diseases in South Sudan. Their effects have diminished production and, as a result, harmed the country’s socio-economic progress.
“They affect the world’s poorest and receive less attention than other diseases,” Dr Rumunu said. Neglected tropical diseases hinder children from going to school and adults from going to work, and they impair cognitive processes.
He said the Ministry of Health is taking action now to make sure that the next generation is saved from NTDs.
“Chronic infections, conditions, and disability caused by these endemic diseases have caused illnesses and needless deaths and affected the livelihoods of many families in South Sudan”, said Elizabeth Achuei, the minister of health.
The Deputy Minister of Information, and Communication Technology, Jacob Maija Korok, said his ministry will cooperate with the ministry of health in creating awareness.
“We will allow all these media channels to educate our people,” he said.
Makoy Samuel, director in the department of NTDs at the national ministry of health, said the government and partners have intensified a concerted effort to promote health for all through water, sanitation, and hygiene.
The theme for this year’s event is “achieving health equity to stop the neglect of poverty-related diseases,” with the purpose of raising awareness about NTDs, maintaining momentum toward elimination, and urging all partners and stakeholders to work together to achieve this goal.
