By Obiala Angel De-son | Radio Emmanuel, Torit
Imehejek Hospital has issued a public call for medical support as it struggles to manage a fast-spreading cholera outbreak in the area.
Speaking to Radio Emmanuel, Dr. Khamis, the hospital’s Medical Director, stated that since the outbreak was declared, the facility has not received any medical supplies from the state government or its health partners, leaving the community at significant risk.
Dr. Khamis reported that the hospital has handled 271 cholera cases, with two deaths. He commended local residents in urban centers for stepping up and purchasing drugs to help manage the outbreak.
“Since the cholera outbreak was declared, no intervention from the state government or the health implementing partner has been done. We recorded 271 cholera cases, 10 still admitted as of yesterday (Tuesday). Unfortunately, two patients died. With no external support, we mobilized the community, who quickly contributed cash to buy drugs. This saved lives in Iboni and Ohilang, with the help of our hospital staff.”
Dr. Khamis added that no official isolation center was set up during the initial stages of the outbreak. Instead, temporary centers were established at Lohotok and Ohilang Primary School to isolate patients.
“Since the outbreak in Western Lopit, with no proper health facility—only a primary health unit and no medical personnel—patients had to be carried for six hours on mats to Imehejek Hospital. This increased the spread of infection. If a health center had existed in Lopit West, the disease might not have spread. We’ve established an isolation center at Ohilang School, which is now closed due to the outbreak.”
The hospital continues to rely on community contributions to purchase and distribute drugs to affected areas such as Ohilang and Iboni. Local volunteers are also supporting hospital staff with food and logistics.
“The community contributed funds to purchase drugs, which we distributed to places like Ohilang and Iboni. Our staff, deployed to help patients, are being supported with food by community members.”
Mr. Lobeli Mark, Health Executive Director for Imehejek administrative area, confirmed the impact of the outbreak and stressed the need for urgent support.
“Imehejek is not safe health-wise. We’ve been hit by a cholera outbreak since mid-June, affecting three-quarters of the community. I thank the community for their contributions toward purchasing drugs, but we call for urgent intervention from state authorities and health partners to save our people.”
The comments were made during a telephone interview with Radio Emmanuel 89FM from Imehejek on Tuesday.