Wulu County, Lakes State, South Sudan, 3 December 2014 - The Ministry of Health (MOH), with support from WHO and partners on 3 December, launched the Cash Reward programme for the reporting of Guinea Worm Disease, and the implementation of community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) for Onchocerciasis (river blindness) control in Wulu County, Lakes State.

Addressing dignitaries and the community, WHO Representative in South Sudan, Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed commended health partners for successfully reducing cases of Guinea Worm Disease from about 20,000 in 2006 to less than 100 in 2014. He also called for community ownership and participation in the mass community treatment of Onchocerciasis.

“Elimination of Onchocerciasis and the eradication of Guinea Worm in South Sudan are a must and will come very soon,” he said, adding that WHO had ensured provision of sufficient medicines for the mass treatment of Onchocerciasis through coordinating well with MERCK, the firm that produces the medicine.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, commended partners for the progress made towards eradicating Guinea Worm Disease so far. He expressed appreciation to WHO and partners for their support in efforts to end both Onchocerciasis and Guinea Worm Disease. Dr.Kok also encouraged the youth, women and community leaders to work with health partners in encouraging uptake of Onchocerciasis chemo-prophylaxis, which is to be taken at least once a year consistently for at least 10 years reaching 100% of the endemic geographic areas and at least 80% of the population in the endemic areas to control the disease.

Dracunculiasis (commonly known as Guinea Worm Disease) is an infection with Dracunculus medinensis, a nematode worm, also known as Guinea worm. It is caused by drinking water containing water fleas (Cyclops species) that have ingested Dracunculuslarvae.This worm is the largest of the tissue parasite affecting humans. The Guinea Worm Cash Reward Programme is an initiative through which people receive payment for reporting cases of Guinea Worm Disease. It is part of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP), which aims to ensure that there will be no cases of the disease by 2015. Currently, the disease is confined to two states in South Sudan, namely Eastern Equatoria and Lakes.

Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulusand is transmitted through the bites of infected black flies of Simulium species. It causes a variety of conditions, including blindness, skin rashes, lesions, intense itching and skin depigmentation.In South Sudan; about 6 million people are at risk of getting Onchocerciasis. In response, MOH, with support from WHO, is providing mass treatment in the endemic foci in the 9 states with particular focus being on the hyper-endemic counties of Raja, Jur River, Mvolo and KajoKeji so that 100% of the communities and at least 80% of the people in these counties are treated. A dosage of Mectizan, administered according to a person’s height once a year for 10 years, can help to prevent or stall the negative effects of Onchocerciasis.

“No-one should be blind because of this disease because it can be prevented,” said Mr. Makoy Samuel, the Coordinator of the Guinea Worm Eradication and Onchocerciasis Control programmes. He encouraged uptake of the treatment, which is available to all people at risk, free of charge.

To launch the Onchocerciasis programme, Dr.Kok took four Mectizan tablets in line with his height to signify the medicine’s importance and harmlessness, as well as to lead by example. Other leaders at the event followed suit, including Lakes State Governor Major General Matur ChulDhuol.

Other dignitaries at the event were Hon. Juma Amiro Dombe the Member of Parliament for Mvolo in the National Assembly, Hon. Rejoice Bauda the Member of Parliament for Mvolo in the National Assembly, Hon. Akon BolAkok the Representative for Northern Bahr El Ghazal in the National Assembly and Chairperson of the HIV/AIDS committee, Hon. Isaac Deng Tur Member of Parliament for Wuluin the National Assembly, Hon. Simon M. Deng Member of Parliament for Wulu in the National Assembly, and Benjamin Akol Morwel the Commissioner for Wulu County.

Minister of Health and WHO Representative Tour Health Facilities in Rumbek

On 4 December, Dr.Kok and Dr. Mohamed toured health facilities in Rumbek, including Kiir Mayardit Hospital and Rumbek State Hospital. After the tour, Dr.Kok pledged further training of staff at the hospital to ensure that it becomes fully functional. Dr. Mohamed encouraged the hospital to take advantage of the technical expertise and visiting experts assigned to the hospital.

Dr.Kok also toured the WHO field office in Rumbek where he was briefed about the organisation’s support to the state. Apart from providing technical support, WHO is also paying incentives to staff involved in the Guinea Worm and Onchocerciasis programmes.

Concerns about low EPI Coverage in Lakes State

Dr. Mohamed expressed concern about low immunisation coverage in Lakes State, which was the lowest in all 10 states. He called on WHO and MOH to work together to enhance coverage.

1. WHO Representative Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed addressing dignitaries and the community at the launch of the two programmes
2. Health Minister Dr. Riek Gai Kok (left) and WHO Representative Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed (right) during a tour of Kiir Maternity hospital in Rumbek.
3. Health Minister Dr. Riek Gai Kok (left) and WHO Representative Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed (right) during a tour of Kiir Mayrdiit hospital in Rumbek.
4. Health Minister Dr. Riek Gai Kok (right) and WHO Representative Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed are met by Lakes State Governor Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol.
5. Health Minister Dr. Riek Gai Kok (right) and WHO Representative Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed interact with SMoH staff in Rumbek.
6. Health Minister Dr. Riek Gai Kok (right) takes the tablets to prevent Oncho.
7. Lakes State Governor Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol and WHO Representative for South Sudan Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed at the event.
8. Some of the community members who attended the event.
9. The community in Rumbek celebrates the launch of the two programmes.
10. The Minister of Health, Dr. Riek Gai Kok, being welcomed at WHO Sub-Office in Rumbek by Dr. Mohamed and staff.
11. WHO Representative for South Sudan Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed at the event inspects the WHO warehouse in Rumbek.

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For more information, please contact:

Matilda Moyo | Communications Consultant
WHO Surge Team | Juba, South Sudan
Mobile: +211 955 036 439
Email:   matilda.moyo [at] gmail.comtarget="_blank"
Skype: matilda.moyo