Uganda Turns to South Sudan in Cholera Crisis

(NIMULE) – At least 3,500 Ugandan residents from Elegu Town Council in Amuru district have received cholera vaccinations in neighbouring South Sudan, as authorities work to contain the spread of the highly contagious diarrheal disease.

The cross-border vaccination campaign was coordinated by Amuru district health authorities and the health team at Nimule Hospital in Nimule Town, South Sudan.

Local officials in Amuru have expressed concern over what they describe as a lack of timely communication from Uganda’s Health Ministry, coupled with limited resources to address the outbreak.

Cholera has affected Amuru district since July 2, resulting in five deaths, including four at Bibia Health Centre III and one at Nimule Hospital.

Patrick Louis Lamot, the Cross Border Focal Point Person at Elegu Port Health, said the vaccination campaign aims to prevent further cross-border transmission of public health threats.

“We held multiple discussions with our counterparts in Nimule Town and agreed to collaborate on all emerging public health issues of international concern,” Lamot said.

Port Health Elegu and the Nimule Health team have been sharing information and planning strategies to limit the spread of cholera. Vaccination was one of the key initiatives implemented once supplies arrived at Nimule Port Health, Lamot added.

However, Lamot noted that it is still unclear whether the recent decrease in reported cholera cases between August 2 and 6 was directly linked to the vaccination campaign. “Many people accessed vaccines from Nimule, but we are yet to determine the exact impact on case numbers,” he said.

Health officials report that 50 cholera cases have been confirmed through laboratory testing at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, while over 200 additional cases tested positive using Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT).

Milton Okello, in charge of Bibia Health Centre III, said the recent spike in cases followed floods in Elegu Town Council. Currently, 15 patients are receiving treatment at the facility. Since the outbreak began, 300 patients have been discharged after treatment for diarrheal complications.

In July, Amuru district’s cholera taskforce unveiled a draft response budget of 913.2 million Ugandan shillings (approximately $260,000 USD) to support case management, surveillance, public awareness campaigns and the welfare of frontline health workers.

While local leaders have criticised the Health Ministry for its perceived silence on the outbreak, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng stated during a parliamentary session on July 31 that medical supplies had been dispatched to the district.

Dr Aceng confirmed that a team from the Ministry of Health, alongside Ministry of Water officials, had collected water samples from Elegu Town Council to assess the safety of the local water supply.