A community cleaning campaign has been launched in Juba’s Hai Referendum to curb spread of cholera outbreak ahead of upcoming rainy season.
Hai Referendum, a lowland area in Juba City is prone to flooding, making it vulnerable to water accumulation, creating ideal conditions for cholera bacteria.
Spearheaded by Juba County authorities, the campaign is a key measure being implemented to curb spread of cholera.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, Juba County Commissioner Emmanuel Tete Ezbon voiced growing concern over the increasing cholera cases, stating that the county began recording cases as early as November last year, well before the rains.
“Now that the rainy season is approaching, what can we do to fight cholera?” Commissioner Ezbon asked. “Fighting cholera is a collective responsibility of both the citizens and the government in Juba County.”
The Commissioner revealed that Juba County has recorded over 4,000 cholera cases since late 2024. Among the affected areas, Jebel IDP Camp has been identified as the hardest hit, highlighting the need to keep surrounding areas clean.
Meanwhile, the Director for Public Order in Juba County, stressed the critical role of hygiene in preventing the spread of the disease.
“The main goal of this cleaning campaign is to reduce the spread of the disease,” he said. “We are particularly concerned about practices like open defecation and illegal dumping of garbage, especially in and around the IDP camp in Hai Referendum.”
Director Pitia urged all residents to actively participate in the campaign by adhering to proper sanitation practices and cooperating fully with the authorities leading the efforts.
Reaffirming the local government’s commitment to addressing the growing health crisis, Executive Director of Juba County, Hillary Lokudu Mohammed, outlined key actions being taken.
“We are here because we received reports of cholera cases in this area,” Executive Director Mohammed explained. “Cholera requires cleanliness. We will deploy public order teams who will be assigning cleaners. Please cooperate with them and support the process.”
Mohammed also directly appealed to the community to support sanitation workers who will be on the ground.
“If people come to clean, please don’t chase them away. Offer them something small to facilitate their work. These services are not free; fuel and transport for garbage trucks need to be covered.”
The ongoing efforts in Juba come against a backdrop of a cholera outbreak affecting most parts of South Sudan.
A report from the State Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Laboratory, covering the period from September 2024 to March 2025, indicates that a total of 39,932 cholera cases, including 691 deaths, have been reported across 41 counties spanning 9 states and two administrative areas (Ruweng and Greater Pibor).
Cholera, a severe diarrheal illness contracted through contaminated food or water, can be fatal if left untreated and is closely linked to inadequate Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions.
