By Paride Wani Moses – Torit
Caritas Torit, under the Catholic Diocese of Torit, has donated cholera response kits to the Eastern Equatoria State Ministry of Health to support ongoing efforts to contain cholera outbreaks in the state.
Speaking at the handover, Fr. Ejidio Okanyi, Director of Caritas Torit, said the contribution was made possible through Caritas South Sudan’s emergency department as part of a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) package.
“Today we are donating these materials and cholera kits to the State Ministry of Health. Considering our collaboration with the Ministry, we felt it was important to donate them so they can help our people—since cholera is still within our communities,” Fr. Okanyi said.
The State Ministry of Health confirmed that the supplies will be delivered to Isohe Payam Mission Hospital in Ikwoto County, where suspected cases have been reported.
Dr. Etin Concord Erib, the Director General in the Ministry, welcomed the support, saying the kits had arrived at a critical time.
“I just received information from health authorities in Ikwoto that there is an outbreak of cholera in St. Theresa Isoke. These kits are exactly what’s needed there and are going to save lives,” Dr. Etin said.
He also urged residents to follow cholera prevention guidelines—washing hands with soap, boiling drinking water, and keeping food clean and covered—while assuring the public that the outbreak is on the decline.
The donation included 50 packets of sterile gloves, 2,000 cannulas, plasters, tetracycline capsules, IV fluids, cotton wool, chlorine, soap, a hand-washing barrel, and other WASH supplies.