All primary and secondary schools in Eastern Equatoria State have been closed down temporarily due to cholera outbreak, the state government has announced.

Cholera cases have been reported in Torit, Nimule and Idale, Imehejek Lopa Corridor.

Out of the total number of those admitted, 50% are school going children.

“If we have got 50% of school going children in the wards, the [rest] are allowed to go [to school] like that, then definitely it will just increase amongst the young ones,” Dr. Margret Itto, State Minister of Health, told Eye Radio.

The schools will remain closed for two weeks as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the water-borne disease.

The minister said most of the patients who have been admitted in the hospitals are school children.

“Most of our schools are overcrowded. In some classes, you find a hundred children,” said Dr Itto.

“So, this is closure is to give us room to see really what is happening – to continuously educate the community.”

Dr. Itto said the ministry of health is conducting a two-day training for health officers and head teachers from the eight counties to enable them carry out awareness to the public on how to prevent the spread of cholera.

She said yesterday the national ministry of health sent a team from Juba headed by a Director-General to help facilitate the train.

Dr. Itto said M-S-F is also facilitating the training.

She said Save the Children UK has also sent technical advisor from London to Torit to help train the health officials on how to contain the contagious disease.