Battling Cholera in South Sudan: A Community’s Fight for Survival

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In the remote village of Gak Dong, nestled deep within Akobo County, a quiet battle unfolds each day against an invisible enemy: cholera. The cholera outbreak in South Sudan has escalated rapidly. As of 17th March, there have been 40,231 cases with 694 confirmed deaths. The outbreak has affected 43 counties in nine states, with a significant impact on overcrowded Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and Protection of Civilians (POC) sites in Juba, Rubkona, and northern regions of the country.  Khon Ajith, a mental psychosocial health worker with the Community Initiative for Development Organization (CIDO), CARE South Sudan’s partner, has seen firsthand the toll this outbreak has taken on families.

 

Community health workers in Gak Dong village in Akobo county attend to cholera-affected community members. CARE South Sudan


“We receive anywhere from 15 to 50 patients daily,” Ajith explains. “Some patients recover and are discharged, but new ones arrive each day, often carried by desperate family members who have walked for hours to reach help.

 

With support from CARE International, CIDO has established a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) in the heart of Gak Dong in Akobo. The unit is a lifeline for those who would otherwise struggle to access medical care. Equipped with cholera kit supplies, sleeping mats, and a dedicated team of health workers, the CTU is primarily treating children and mothers—some barely able to stand due to severe dehydration caused by relentless diarrhea and vomiting. Many arrive with dangerously low blood pressure, their bodies weakened by the illness.

 

“This has been a timely response, especially for those living far from the main hospital,” Ajith says, glancing toward a mother gently stroking her child’s forehead as they rest on a mat inside the CTU. In a region where medical facilities are scarce and transportation is almost nonexistent, the presence of this unit has made the difference between life and death.


 

Community health workers in Gak Dong village in Akobo county attend to cholera-affected community members. CARE South Sudan

Understanding the gravity of the situation, CIDO not only treats patients but also takes proactive measures to prevent the disease from spreading further. “We ensure we get the medications from CARE at the main hospital and bring them directly to the community,” Ajith explains. “People who cannot travel long distances now have access to treatment.”

 

Raising awareness is another crucial part of their mission. Health workers go door to door, urging families to recognize the early signs of cholera and bring their loved ones to the treatment unit before it’s too late. They educate the community on the importance of clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene practices—basic yet powerful tools in the fight against the outbreak.

 

The crisis extends beyond Gak Dong. Across South Sudan, CARE, alongside CIDO and the Ministry of Health, has been working tirelessly to contain the outbreak through emergency health interventions, improved sanitation, and access to clean water. Since the outbreak began, CARE has treated over 1,490 cases, but the grim reality remains—17 lives have already been lost.

For families in Gak Dong, each day is a struggle, but amidst the hardship, there is hope. The presence of health workers, the steady supply of medicine, and the tireless efforts of organizations like CARE and CIDO mean that fewer lives will be claimed by the disease. In the midst of adversity, a community once left to fend for itself is now finding strength in collective resilience, determined to overcome yet another challenge in their fight for survival. 

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