(JUBA) – A serious public health alert has been raised at Al Shaba Children’s Hospital in Juba after four young patients were bitten by stray dogs roaming the facility’s compound. The hospital’s administrator, Emmanuel Gore, confirmed that the affected children were being treated with anti-rabies medication as a precaution against the disease, which can be fatal if untreated.
Speaking to the media, Gore described the situation as urgent and alarming, with over fifty stray dogs observed within the hospital compound. He said the animals had become a growing threat to both patients and staff, especially vulnerable children receiving treatment for unrelated illnesses.
“A child brought with another disease in the hospital, the dog bites. I have four children now the hospital is controlling with anti-rabies,” he said.
Gore explained that, as a public health worker and administrator, he had tried repeatedly to contain the situation but was unsuccessful.
“This is the main challenge that is above my capacity to control them. I tried a lot but I failed,” he said.
He added that his appeals to the Ministry of Animal Resources, as well as to security, police and wildlife authorities, had so far not led to any response.
According to Gore, the presence of the dogs is not only frightening for children but represents a clear threat to public safety and infection control at the health facility. “We have more than fifty stray dogs in the hospital and now it has started frightening children,” he stressed.
In response to the situation, the Acting Minister of Health for Central Equatoria State stated that he would report the matter to the state governor. He noted that the presence of stray dogs in a hospital compound constitutes a security issue that warrants executive intervention.
“This is already an insecurity problem and he is the head of the security. I share the information to him,” the minister said.
Public health experts advise that any dog bite, regardless of whether it appears minor or severe, should be examined and treated by a medical professional due to the risk of rabies and other complications. Rabies, which is transmitted through saliva from infected animals, can cause death if not treated promptly.
According to the hospital, the cost of treatment for each child using anti-rabies medication is high. At the official exchange rate of 1 USD to 4,600 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), the approximate treatment cost per child is estimated as follows:
| Item | Estimated Cost in SSP | Estimated Cost in USD |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-rabies treatment | 92,000 SSP | $20 |
| Wound care and dressing | 46,000 SSP | $10 |
| Total per child | 138,000 SSP | $30 |
This cost becomes significant for families already struggling under South Sudan’s economic pressures.
