By Agar Mayor Gai-Makoon
Two months have passed, and the cholera disease still haunts the lives of South Sudanese. Fatality cases have almost clocked 400, and it has spread to more states than it was from the beginning with overall cases reaching 21,389. Even though some milestones have been achieved in controlling the outbreak so far, for instance, complete vaccination campaign in Renk and 4,290 PUR tablets provided by European Humanitarian Response Capacity (EHRC), it seems the mechanisms put in place by the national ministry of health are slowly acting or not so much satisfactory.
It is hard to imagine how outrageous it is to be with cholera outbreak for too long given the assailable health state of our communities. Remember cholera kills within a few hours if left untreated. So, we can again appreciate the efforts by the government and partners in taming the deadly cholera outbreak.
However, more efforts are required to sensitize communities about keeping themselves safe and healthy, and provide necessary help to authorities in times of health disasters as this one. We are a country that still has more of its population in rural areas where there is lack of safe water, no toilets and people still share rooms and beds, which make spread of any infectious disease easy and deadly. Disease control is something that must start with the individual first. And perhaps, it is very important to create an environment where each individual knows how to protect themselves and when to ask for government intervention. By doing that, we will have been a community that is well shielded against health emergencies and even if they do arise, the response is always efficient and enough to control.
The worst health emergency is not the deadliest disease in the world, but it is the one that catches you by surprise—the emergency that you are not well prepared to deal with. Let’s create an informed society by making sure that the basics of health promotion and prevention are known by each and everyone. It is the responsibility of each of us to do this task. But it becomes easier and more extended when it is the national ministry of health and its corresponding state ministries doing it. I have a feeling that the cholera outbreak is persistent because the common citizens are not well aware that they themselves, can control it. And for this reason, I am going to outline ways of preventing and controlling cholera in three categories.
If you already have the cholera disease
– See a healthcare provider immediately
– Eat a well-cooked food
– Drink boiled water
- Use warm water to wash clothing that may have had contact with diarrhea.
- Use flushing toilet or if in rural areas isolate yourself to a confined area that is closer to bushes where you can dispose your poop.
- Administer oral rehydration solution to any household member that develops cholera symptoms like diarrhea.
- Properly dispose items that are contaminated by the feces
- Stop sharing plates or beds with others as they may have been infected with the bacteria.
- Limit movements until you no longer have bowel symptoms
- Eat well washed vegetables and fruits
If you are caring for someone with cholera
- Use soap and safe water to wash your hands after attending to the person who is sick
- Use household disinfectant to clean any area or item that may have contact with the sick person’s poop.
- Use protective gloves when cleaning the room or any area that may have had contact with someone’s excrement.
- Do not serve food or drink to anyone outside your household.
- Administer oral rehydration solution to the sick person two times or more daily.
- Get vaccinated
- Follow the doctor’s guidelines
- Disinfect your clothes, items before and when leaving the sick person
- Call doctor immediately when you notice dehydration symptoms in the sick person like dry mouth and tongue, extreme thirst and fatigue, confusion, sunken eyes and cheeks, dark-colored urine and so on.
- Never leave the sick person alone
If you are visiting the home of someone with cholera
- Do not touch surfaces as they may have been contaminated with the bacteria
- Wash your hands thoroughly before leaving and again when you get to your next location
- Get vaccinated
- Immediately take oral rehydration solution when you develop cholera symptoms like diarrhea.
- Cultivate strength and courage in the sick person so that he is able to follow the guidelines of treatment
- Protect your family, your community and South Sudan now.
The writer has a background in socio-political philosophy. He currently studies medicine at Ain Shams University, Egypt. The insights shared above are his own. He can be reached on +201129107334, and email: thieng.thiengwada@gmail.com