Due to a recent outbreak of cholera in Juba, South Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been constructing cholera treatment centres (CTCs) around the city to provide emergency treatment for the disease.
CTC Gudele 2 is a facility made up of a hospital, recovery area, decontamination points, a laundry service to decontaminate clothes and sanitation facilities. We spoke to some of the patients and staff to find out how the outbreak had affected them.
Kiden Margaret, patient
Kiden Margaret arrived at 4am on the 6th June with her two-year-old son John, who showed symptoms of cholera. John has been receiving rehydration treatment and has shown signs of improvement, however he is still vomiting and has diarrhoea.
"Cholera is now increasingly affecting many people and killing children especially."
"I had to inform my husband immediately to rush us to the nearest cholera hospital in Gudele, run by MSF."
"My son was very weak, now we are here and he is put on drip and given oral rehydration solutions. I hope my son will get better."
Alice John, patient
Seventeen-year-old Alice arrived from Kafu, an hour's walk away from Gudele 2 on the 5th of June showing symptoms of cholera. She is now on oral rehydration treatment and being looked after by the MSF team there.
"When I started experiencing the signs of vomiting with slight diarrhoea, I developed fear in me, that I might die of cholera because I had no money for treatment."
"I am happy that MSF is providing us with cholera treatment."
"I am getting well. I would like to say to everyone: you should keep good hygiene!"
Mududuzi Chandawila, nurse
Mududuzi, from Zimbabwe, is the head nurse at Gudele 2. He carries out the training and supervision of the national staff, especially in regards to how the oral rehydration solutions are administered.
"As one of the guiding rules and regulations for any cholera treatment centre, no food from outside the CTC is allowed to the patients. MSF provides food, both lunch and dinner, to all patients and their carers."
"From the beginning of the outbreak, the suspected cholera patients were increasing by at least three to five cases per day but in the third week of the outbreak this is no longer the case. It seems the cases are reducing."
Take a virtual tour of the CTC's in-patient department in Juba.
Read more about our responce to the cholera outbreak inSouth Sudan here
