Water scarcity or lack of safe drinking water is one of the world’s leading problems affecting more than 1 billion people globally, meaning that one in every six people lacks access to safe drinking water. /Getty Images Photo
Sudan’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Friday that five people have died from cholera in Blue Nile state since August 28.
67 cases of cholera have been reported by the ministry since then with nearly a third of them (18) currently undergoing treatment in isolation.
30 patients have been discharged after receiving treatment, according to the UN.
There are two cholera treatment centres in Blue Nile State and an isolation centre for cholera case management.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is cooperating with health authorities in Sudan and other organisations to tackle to cases of cholera in the state.
Already, a joint team from the WHO and government had gone to the state to offer assistance in sanitation and water safety standards, waste disposal and food safety.
Dr. Naeema Al Gasseer, the WHO Representative in Sudan, warned that cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases risked spreading due to substandard health conditions and poor safe water and sewage system structures. These have been worsened by polluted water sources caused by recent floods.
Gasseer called for immediate response interventions to be implemented to curb this potential trend.
Source: Reuters, WHO