Why did eight cholera patients have to walk for medical treatment?

Question

Accepted Answer

Eight Cholera Patients Died While Walking for Medical Treatment in South Sudan

Eight individuals, including five children, succumbed to cholera in South Sudan while undertaking a three-hour journey to seek medical attention. This tragedy occurred last month and is directly linked to the cessation of US-funded transportation services, a consequence of aid cuts implemented by the US government. The lack of these services forced the cholera patients to walk in extreme heat, approaching 40°C (104°F), to reach the nearest functional health facility.
Impact of US Aid Cuts on Health Services

The US aid cuts, initiated by President Donald Trump in January under an "America First" policy, have had a severe impact on local health infrastructure. Save the Children reported that these funding reductions led to the closure of several health facilities they supported. Specifically, out of 27 health facilities in Jonglei State that Save the Children was assisting, seven were forced to close entirely, and an additional 20 experienced partial shutdowns.
Deterioration of Access to Healthcare

The suspension of US-funded transport services was a critical factor in the patients' inability to reach medical care. Without this essential transport, the eight cholera patients were left with no alternative but to embark on a perilous walk. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that three of the deceased children were younger than five years old, highlighting the vulnerability of the most at-risk populations when healthcare access is compromised.
Cholera Outbreak and Humanitarian Concerns

The incident underscores the severity of the cholera outbreak in South Sudan, which was declared last October. As of last month, the World Health Organisation had recorded over 22,000 cases and hundreds of fatalities. Experts have voiced concerns that broader US aid reductions could lead to millions of deaths in the coming years due to various diseases, including malnutrition, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as health systems struggle to cope with the reduced funding.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Why did eight cholera patients have to walk for medical treatment?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends