National Prison Service of South Sudan (NPSSS) and health officials in the Western Bahr el Ghazal State capital, Wau, have confirmed that one inmate died of cholera and at least five inmates are in critical condition after contracting the disease at Wau Central Prison.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Pasqule Aleu, Director General at the state health ministry, said they detected suspected cholera cases at the prison this week.
“Right now, there are suspected cases of cholera at Wau Central Prison. We received information that people are suffering from diarrhea. We sent a response team, and they found that 68 people are suffering from diarrhea,” he said. “Five people are in critical condition, with one death reported. As the health ministry, we dispatched a team to respond at the prison, and we are currently conducting health education at the facility.”
“We have also sent a team from the World Health Organization (WHO) and our case management team from the ministry to go and provide treatment to the patients at the prison,” Aleu added.
Meanwhile, Wau Central Prison Director Major General Macherenga Marial confirmed the outbreak and attributed it to congestion at the prison.
“The prison was meant to accommodate only 200 inmates, but now it is overcrowded,” he stated.
Last week, Gen. Marial said the prison is currently accommodating 1006 people.
The cholera outbreak in Western Bahr el Ghazal State was first reported in February, and 721 cases have been recorded with 20 deaths. 602 people have been discharged from the hospital.