By Peter Kuol Kuch
Duk County Commissioner, John Chatim Reath called for cholera vaccinations for residents of Toch, a swampy area, primarily used for fishing activities.
According to the Commissioner, at least 14 cholera cases were admitted to Duk health facilities this week, with the majority originating from Toch.
“It’s very difficult to access Toch, but I see that there is a need to bring cholera vaccine for people living there. Most of the cases we have now come from Toch,” Commissioner Reath told No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper.
Reath stated that the cholera vaccine has not reached most swampy areas in Duk since the outbreak began this year.
“These are people who are fishing deep there in Toch; those people need the vaccine. Although most of the people staying here at Duk headquarters were vaccinated, the disease can still be contracted through those people in Toch.”
Mr. Reath added that many areas in Toch are inaccessible due to poor road conditions and lack of mobile network coverage. He also reported cholera-related deaths in Duk County this week.
In February of this year, the Jonglei State Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization, launched a cholera vaccination campaign in Jonglei State.