The government has beefed up the efforts in fighting prevalent water-borne diseases by launching a project to ensure safe water consumption in South Sudan.

“As we always say ‘water is life’. This is life and I believe in South Sudan. We need safe clean drinking water,” said Gatwech Peter Kulang, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.

The Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management and South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) will oversee the project. It is being implemented by 734 Water Company South Sudan through the deployment of innovative technology.

According to the Ministry of Health, lack of access to safe and clean drinking water has contributed to cases of diarrhoea and typhoid infection among the population of South Sudan.

Dr Mohamed Ayoya, UNICEF Country Representative, also said last year that lack of access to safe and clean drinking in South Sudan had also increased the risks of diarrheal infections and contributed to acute malnutrition among children.

“Clean water means arresting the transmission of water-borne diseases and that is the aim of the Ministry of Health and the government of South Sudan,” said Dr Victoria Anib Majur from the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management estimates that the project will yield 40,000 litres of safe and clean drinking water a day using clean energy to ensure environmental protection.