By Jacob Bol

An official in Twic East County, Jonglei State, said it has finally received supplies of three-month medical items from the national government after going for four months without drugs.

Juach Arok Juach, the area commissioner said the general situation in the county is deteriorating due to the continued flooding.

The commissioner said the civil population is scattered across the county to the highlands to seek refuge, which has prompted the challenges of transportation and access to health facilities.

“The population living across the highland location is 65,973 which is about 147 households and life is hard for them. The way they receive medication assistance is because 88% is covered by water and they are sharing the refuge with wild reptiles and when someone is beaten by a snake, it is hard for them to receive medication,” Arok explained.

He added that water-born diseases are rampant and have affected at least 100 children who are being treated at the main hospital.

“The only means of transport is water and the county only has one speedboat to cover the area, which is overwhelmed,” he stressed.

Duop Roam Kok, the Director General at the State Ministry of Health said that the first batch of consignment of medical supplies was rolled out last week on Friday for Duk and Twic East Counties respectively.

“The second consignment is rolling out today which will cover these  counties for the next three months.”