The United Nations Children Fund or UNICEF has warned that there is no time to waste as Ebola is closer to South Sudan making the country at higher risk of contracting it.
UNICEF Representative to South Sudan, Dr Mohamed Ag Ayoya says 14 percent of the 4.3 million USD needed to fund Ebola prevention and preparedness activities have been funded.
‘With Ebola closer to South Sudan than before, we have no time to lose. We need to be prepared to deal with an outbreak in the country, but first we must do everything we possibly can to stop the disease from reaching South Sudan,’ stressed Dr Mohamed Ag Ayoya.
‘The active involvement of communities is key to avoid infections. We are working closely with them to create awareness and understanding of transmission routes, and promoting hand washing and good hygiene practices, he adds’
Responding to CRN, UNICEF Communications specialist, Helene Sandbu Ryeng mentions that Gbudue; Tambura; Maridi; Yei, Nimule; Jubek; and Wau States are at high risk of Ebola.
She stresses that the need for 4.3 million is immediate and if not funded, it will affect UNICEF’s ability to train frontline workers.
‘If we don’t get the necessary funding, we will not be able to reach all the people we need to with lifesaving messages on Ebola which is a crucial for prevention and preparedness work in South Sudan,’ Sandbu stresses.
UNICEF appreciates the governments of United Kingdom and Germany, the World Bank and CERF for funding Ebola preparedness and prevention activities in South Sudan.
Between January and July 2019, UNICEF and partners have reached more than 850,000 people through interpersonal and group communication.
South Sudan urgently needs US$ 12 Million to Sustain and improve Ebola preparedness and prevention measures to protect people in the conflict-affected country.
The World Health organization has assessed the risk of the disease spreading to South Sudan as ‘very high’.
This rare, infectious and often fatal disease was discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC near the Ebola River.
Scientists believe that bats are the most likely carriers of the Ebola virus.
Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.
This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and in some cases, bleeding.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease spreads from person to person through direct contact via broken skin or through the eyes, nose, and mouth with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick.