ROMA – In South Sudan, the number of children suffering from severe malaria who have been admitted to Aweil hospital in the last three months, a facility supported by team Of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. After an initial increase in hospitalizations in June, in September up to 400 children were admitted to the pediatric ward for severe malaria – more than double compared to September the previous year – MSF warns. Moreover, neighboring Sudan has the highest incidence rate of malaria according to WHO findings. In 2023, it is estimated that over 3.4 million cases of the disease have occurred in the country, with approximately 7,900 deaths.
The effects of the rainy season. “Every year, during the rainy season, there is a surge in malaria cases in Aweil – says Mamman Mustapha, head of mission of MSF in South Sudan – for this reason we carry out seasonal prevention activities for tens of thousands of children, we open centers of testing and treatment so that people can be quickly diagnosed and receive treatment, and we create a malaria ward within the hospital with 72 beds. However, this year we faced an exceptional situation and the hospital was completely overwhelmed. Even though in September we increased the number of beds in the malaria department to 94 – added Mamman Mustapha – it was not enough to cope with the increase in hospitalizations and many patients were treated in the corridors”.
43 children hospitalized a day with malaria. In the last month alone, on average, 43 children suffering from severe forms of malaria were hospitalized every day, many of whom needed blood transfusions. Since September, there have been around 14 blood transfusions for malaria per day and an average daily number of 140 children hospitalised. Among the 11,600 patients who received malaria treatment at Aweil Hospital between January and September, more than 8,000 – or more than two-thirds – were treated between July and September alone.
Cases are increasing everywhere, inside and outside the hospital. Even outside the hospital, malaria cases have increased and one of the main reasons is the early arrival of rains which have led to extensive flooding for many more months than usual. This year, over a million people have been affected by floods in South Sudan and the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal is one of the hardest hit. Furthermore, the near collapse of the primary healthcare system and the resulting lack of access to home care has led to more children than usual having to be admitted to hospital to survive.
The first doses of R21 vaccine. South Sudan received its first doses of the R21 malaria vaccine this year, marking a major milestone in the country’s fight against the disease. Doctors Without Borders is supporting the Ministry of Health of South Sudan to spread this vaccine and “it is hoped – concludes Mamman Mustapha – that with greater coverage we will be able to control the impact of the disease in the coming years”.
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