(UROR) – Health officials in Uror County, Jonglei State, have reported a serious increase in cholera cases, putting severe pressure on the already limited resources at the county’s main hospital.
The facility, which is the only operational hospital in the area, has only seven beds and a team of 23 staff members, making it difficult to handle the growing number of patients.
According to the County Health Director, Stephen Kuol Guok, more than 140 people have been treated for cholera in recent weeks. Tragically, 10 people have already died due to the outbreak.
The situation has become worse following the closure of six nearby health centres. These facilities had been playing a vital role in early response and treatment. However, they were recently shut down after funding support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was discontinued.
Local health authorities say the closure of the six centres has forced more patients to seek help at the already overstretched county hospital. With very limited bed space and medical supplies, the hospital staff are now struggling to manage the rising demand for treatment.
Cholera, which is caused by drinking unsafe water or eating contaminated food, spreads quickly in places with poor sanitation and limited clean water. The rainy season, poor infrastructure, and ongoing humanitarian challenges in Jonglei have created the conditions for the disease to spread rapidly.
Health officials are appealing for urgent help from partners and the national Ministry of Health to send more medical supplies, support reopening of the closed health centres, and boost funding to improve response capacity. Without quick intervention, they warn the number of cases could rise even higher in the coming weeks.