Kapoeta East County of Eastern Equatoria is the leading State in terms of guinea worm infections in South Sudan and in the world.
Kapoeta East County records 19 cases of guinea worm infections this year while two cases reported are in other states of South SudanSouth Sudan Guinea Worm Eradication Program Director Makoy Samuel told Radio Emmanuel that the high rate of infections placed the country as number one on guinea worm infections.
He calls on county, state and national leaders to increase awareness about guinea worm infections through the media and public rallies to save the lives of helpless victims in the rural areas.
Eastern Equatoria World Health Organization official Dominic Franco told the press that last year 452 guinea worm cases were reported in Greater Kapoeta alone.
He said Warrap State reported 37 cases, Jonglei 24 and Western Bar el Ghazal and Lakes state one case each.
Mr Franco explained that guinea worm spreads through water contaminated with its larvae.
He said the World Health Organization works in partnership with the state Ministry of Health to strengthen community based surveillance in most affected areas.