A deformed fetus with intestines out of her body. | Courtesy

A baby born with deformities in Ruweng Administrative Area passed away on Sunday while awaiting referral from Juba Teaching Hospital to Nairobi, Kenya for advanced medical care.

The boy passed on aged seven days, after being born on May 28, at Panrieng Hospital in Ruweng Administrative Area.

The parents Nyanrat Bol Lang and Chan Dau come from Maan-Awal Boma in Aliab Payam of Lake No County – an area believed to have about seven oil wells.

In a press statement published on late on Sunday, Akuot Sarah, Ruweng Minister of Information confirmed the baby’s passing.

“With sadness, the Ruweng Administrative Area Government sends heartfelt condolences 💐 to the family of the little Angel, the Born deformed Baby Boy from Ruweng Administrative Area on Sunday 28th May 2023 at Panreing,” says Akuot.

“It is exactly 1 week since the baby was born and the Government of Ruweng Administrative Area made efforts to airlift the baby to Juba and engaged the concerned authorities for better treatment.”

Akuot previously said the infant was immediately transferred to Juba Teaching Hospital for further medical attention – after detecting the birth defects.

“The baby was born on the 28^th Sunday at 1 am at Panrieng Hospital. From the moment the baby came out, the two legs were deformed,” Akuot told Eye Radio.

“The baby was born about 2.4 kg, he was breathing well, the head and the upper body are okay but only the intestines and other organs were exposed,” she added.

A medical examination found out that the baby has a gastro-schisis, a condition that develops while a baby is still in the womb.

The official believes the condition is as a result of the environmental pollution in the area.

“The baby was put in the incubator. They say this is a condition called Gastroschisis. It is caused by the environment and also some foods or drinks that someone takes while pregnant.”

According to Minister Akuot, the area so far registered six cases of stillbirths but did not specify the time frame.

On his part, Dr. Guawar Isaac, a pediatrician has cautioned the locals against exposure to such a hazardous environment.

“People need to be cautious about being near this kind of hazardous environment, especially oil fields,” Guawar told Eye Radio.

“Water is one of the main issues that the area is affected by. People need to have clean water, Living in places where the soil is polluted is not safe,

Dr Guawar said the food grown locally in Ruweng could be contaminated by oil pollution.

“The oil pollution can affect crops grown locally there, and the animals [meat], and even fish. It would be good to have a safe place where people can leave away from such environments.”

In 2016, the Executive Director of the Nile Institute of Environmental Health, Dr Bior Kuer told Eye Radio that the locals were exposed to oil wastes, putting their lives at risk of health complications.

He said there is a need for awareness about the dangers of oil pollution in the area and the provision of clean drinking water to avoid health hazards related to oil-spill.

In 2015 also, a German-based human rights group – The Economic Times – also warned that oil pollution was threatening the health of thousands of people in South Sudan.

It said dangerous heavy metals used in oil production had leaked into drinking water sources used by 180,000 people with life-threatening health risks.