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Posted here first by Toubib and MHSC. Thanks to you both!
Originally posted by MHSC
Medair treats deadly meningococcal disease outbreak in Southern Sudan
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Sudan (Southern Sudan) - The outbreak began over six weeks ago and has spread throughout the country, with eight of Southern Sudan?s 10 states being affected. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on 15 February (ref. 1) that there are 1,129 suspected cases, with 96 people having died.
The Medair medical emergency response team (ERT) is seeing 30 new cases each day, and providing life-saving treatment to 203 patients so far. In the first few days, Medair saw one or two people die every day from the disease, because they had arrived for treatment too late.
For this reason, Medair is actively engaged in promoting health awareness in the local communities. The ERT is visiting the surrounding villages, informing the communities about signs and symptoms of the disease, how it is transmitted and what to do to prevent spreading Meningitis. People are encouraged to come to the clininc as soon as they start having symptoms which considerably improves their chance of surviving.
At the national level, Medair is providing technical guidance on outbreak control and management.
Due to the geographical scope of the outbreak, the emergency response was coordinated by the Ministry of Health of the Government of Southern Sudan. In addition to Medair?s participation, other partner organisations include: WHO; UNICEF; Emergency Preparedness & Response (EP&R); UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and M?decins sans Fronti?res (MSF).
Medair is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), with its operational headquarters located in Switzerland. It has worked in Sudan since 1992. In Upper Nile, Medair is currently running an emergency nutrition programme in partnership with Tearfund, as well as increasing access to a number of primary health care units and safe water points. These projects are carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation, and UNICEF. They receive financial support from the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Union (ECHO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/OFDA,) and the United Kingdom?s Department for International Development (DfID).
Elsewhere in Southern Sudan, Medair provides emergency medical and water assistance for outbreaks, large people movements, and nutritional emergencies, as well as improving access to primary health care and safe water sources in a number of locations across the region. In the northern states, Medair provides access to primary health care and water and sanitation for up to 200,000 conflict-affected persons in West Darfur; works with war-displaced people in Khartoum; and supports access to primary health care in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan.
Medair?s life-saving activities are dependent upon private financial support. To contribute to this work, please visit www.medair.org (Sudan section.)
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/...H?OpenDocument
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Sudan (Southern Sudan) - The outbreak began over six weeks ago and has spread throughout the country, with eight of Southern Sudan?s 10 states being affected. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported on 15 February (ref. 1) that there are 1,129 suspected cases, with 96 people having died.
The Medair medical emergency response team (ERT) is seeing 30 new cases each day, and providing life-saving treatment to 203 patients so far. In the first few days, Medair saw one or two people die every day from the disease, because they had arrived for treatment too late.
For this reason, Medair is actively engaged in promoting health awareness in the local communities. The ERT is visiting the surrounding villages, informing the communities about signs and symptoms of the disease, how it is transmitted and what to do to prevent spreading Meningitis. People are encouraged to come to the clininc as soon as they start having symptoms which considerably improves their chance of surviving.
At the national level, Medair is providing technical guidance on outbreak control and management.
Due to the geographical scope of the outbreak, the emergency response was coordinated by the Ministry of Health of the Government of Southern Sudan. In addition to Medair?s participation, other partner organisations include: WHO; UNICEF; Emergency Preparedness & Response (EP&R); UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and M?decins sans Fronti?res (MSF).
Medair is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), with its operational headquarters located in Switzerland. It has worked in Sudan since 1992. In Upper Nile, Medair is currently running an emergency nutrition programme in partnership with Tearfund, as well as increasing access to a number of primary health care units and safe water points. These projects are carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation, and UNICEF. They receive financial support from the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Union (ECHO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/OFDA,) and the United Kingdom?s Department for International Development (DfID).
Elsewhere in Southern Sudan, Medair provides emergency medical and water assistance for outbreaks, large people movements, and nutritional emergencies, as well as improving access to primary health care and safe water sources in a number of locations across the region. In the northern states, Medair provides access to primary health care and water and sanitation for up to 200,000 conflict-affected persons in West Darfur; works with war-displaced people in Khartoum; and supports access to primary health care in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan.
Medair?s life-saving activities are dependent upon private financial support. To contribute to this work, please visit www.medair.org (Sudan section.)
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/...H?OpenDocument