Yak Yak Bol, National Coordinator for PC -NTD at the Ministry of Health speaking to Eye Radio in Juba on 20th December 2023. Photo Credit: Charles Wote/Eye Radio

An official at the Ministry of Health is appealing to the private sector to help support the elimination of neglected tropical diseases.

Yak Yak Bol, the National Coordinator for Preventive Chemotherapy of Neglected Tropical Diseases says the country has a burden of 19 out of 21 Diseases.

Also known as NTDs, are a group of infectious diseases that primarily affect populations in tropical regions of the world, particularly in low-income and developing countries.

Those found in South Sudan include Trachoma, Nodding Syndrome, Snakebite, Leprosy, Scabies, and Lymphatic Filariasis among others that are affecting communities in different parts of the country.

Yak says these diseases are called “neglected” because they historically have not received as much attention and funding as other major global health issues, despite causing significant illness and deaths.

“They called neglected tropical diseases because the world is neglecting them as part of the health sector and they were not given attention for intervention and therefore they become a burden to the communities especially in Africa where they were not given attention,” Yak said.

“In South Sudan, we have children of 2 years old, 3 years old, and 5 years old who are affected by Trachoma. If we don’t treat them quickly, in the next five years, they will be blind so it is a threat to the communities and the health of the people,” he said.

The World Health Organization recommends that any efforts to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases should involve a combination of preventive measures, such as mass drug administration, improved sanitation and hygiene, vector control, and health education.

Yak Yak Bol however says the country may not meet the global target of eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2023 due to limited financial capacity from the government and inconsistent donor funding.

This is because the government’s annual national budget allocation to the Health Sector is just 2.0%.

He however appealed to the private sector to step in and support the Ministry of Health to eradicate the diseases.

“There are only five ‘Preventive Chemotherapy – Neglected Tropical Diseases’ that we are fighting to eliminate in South Sudan, for example, Trachomatous Trichiasis in South Sudan just need very little money,” Yak said.

“If we have like for example $1,000, we can operate around 500 cases with that money, and then you relieve many people. You can do adolescent surgery with just a very small amount of money those are the contributions we need from the private sector, if they put their hands together, we can handle those cases,” he said.

“In Unity State, for example, we have the highest Trachoma endemic. The oil companies operating in those areas can easily raise some money from their social responsibility for this program, within a short time possible we will be able to stop the transmission of Trachoma in Unity State even Upper Nile State.”