UNICEF battles against the clock to save lives effected by the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak in Sudan

Only one in three people in Sudan have access to proper latrines and less than 70% have access to safe water. This lack of adequate sanitation and hygiene conditions can cause the spread of acute watery diarrhoea and diseases.

As the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak nearly enters its second year in Sudan, sixteen out of Sudan’s 18 states have reported cases of AWD. In White Nile, the state with the highest case load of 7,342 cases, UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Health spared no effort or resource to stem the spread of the disease. Almost at every turn a child or woman on their way to the water treatment bladders is carrying one of the 10,000 clean UNICEF branded jerry cans distributed as part of the response.

Saeeda bint Adam, a 34 year old mother recalls the night she was rushed to the hospital following severe abdominal pain and other symptoms resembling acute watery diarrhoea. “I had just fed my 5 children and put my youngest to bed when I started to feel pain and rushed to the bathroom, the details are embarrassing so I will spare them. By the morning I was feeling so weak and helpless and had to be rushed to the hospital by my brother. I spent days there where I was hooked to an intravenous drip and given medication. I am feeling so much better now, but I am still convinced it was actually kidney failure” said Saeeda. Her 13 year old daughter who is washing clothes in a basin, laughs and corrects her mother “It wasn’t kidney failure mother, I think you would need surgery for that. It was what many people in our village have been admitted to the hospital for; acute watery diarrhoea.”

A main area of response has been the provision of safe drinking water. This is being done through the chlorination of water sources as well distribution of chlorine tablets to households.

While diarrheal diseases are common in Sudan, it is the speed of acute watery diarrhoea that makes it different. The severe dehydration it can cause could in some cases mean that tomorrow is too late. However, it can be treated quickly and effectively if treated on time. But the key to halting its spread is prevention.

Aisha Hassan is Saeeda’s next door neighbour, she’s peaking over the short wall separating their two homes. As we prepare to leave, she tells us that her 3 children refuse to drink the chlorinated water because it tastes different and asks if we can convince them that it’s safe. “Perhaps if they heard it from a UNICEF staff, it might make a difference. There are many reasons that children could die, diarrhoea shouldn’t be one of them” said Aisha.

One of the main causes for the spread of AWD is the lack of knowledge among communities of basic hygiene information, therefore learning how AWD is transmitted meant that communities took the power to protect themselves into their own hands.

UNICEF monitoring officer rallied the children and community members, waiting in line to collect water and explained the importance of drinking safe water and other essential hygiene practices, like washing hands with soap. Thanks to the ongoing door to door hygiene promotion activities, every member of the group is aware of the measures needed to protect themselves and their families. As the impromptu session wrapped up, the children asked how long will they have to keep drinking the chlorinated water and we said “as long as you want to keep yourself protected from AWD”, they seemed convinced.

So far the lifesaving water purification services and hygiene promotion activities have reached 2 million people affected and exposed to the risk of the AWD outbreak in White Nile, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Kassala and Gedarif states. The support was conducted through covering 325 water sources with water chlorination services, distribution of water purification chlorine supply for households with no access to improved water sources. Additionally, hygiene promotion campaigns through mass media reached nearly 13,000 households with hygiene awareness messages and distribution of hand washing soap.

In White Nile State, improved access to clean water source was provided to more than 45,000 AWD affected or at risk individuals through the construction of 4 water supply treatment plants, two motorized groundwater systems and one hand pump.

Related posts:

With vehicles as diverse as a 1937 Delahaye 135M coupe bodied by Dubos and a 1968 L-88 Chevrolet Corvette Sunray-DX built to race by Don Yenko, Worldwide Auctioneers is filling out the docket for its…

Although India under Virat Kohli lost the 3-Test series against South Africa 2–1 during January 2018 the cricket was highly competitive with constant ups and downs. India nearly won the series with…

I took last week off as a gift to myself. I graduated with my PhD last month, and after 26 years of schooling it seemed like a small staycation was in order. If I’m being totally honest though, it…