By Bakindo Stephen-Maridi
The community in Maridi County, Western Equatoria State have called on the government to join hands with the NGOS to fight the brain disorder diseases termed as nodding and epilepsy in Maridi.
The community members made the calls during a one day community consultative meeting organized by AMREF with support from Italian agency for cooperation and development.
The program aimed at responding to a cross sectorial needs of community affected by nodding and other forms of epilepsy.
Speaking during the meeting Mudubai Chief Sulutan Justin Badi Malish appreciated AMREF organization for helping the community of Maridi.
“We would like the government of South Sudan to join hands with the NGOs because it is our population which is reducing and we need our children to be fine,” Chief Mudubai said.
Mariam Bali strongly urged the organization who are working on the nodding syndrome program to give more support to the community saying the support they are receiving is not enough.
“This people are giving drugs to this children and they are saying this children should be clean. How can half a bar of soap wash cloth for one month? They also need these children to eat well, some mothers are very poor some of us our children are affected with this sickness. We are not happy with those who lost their children and all their parents are affected by this sickness” she explained.
The Field Coordinator for AMREF, nodding Syndrome in Maridi, Mr. Samuel Cadhor said the project will start to support 50 beneficiaries under food security component of the project.
Cadhor advised the committee to give support to their children saying people should take care and refers nodding victims to the hospital for treatment.
“This children need your care don’t send them to the river alone, let them not sit next to the fire, give them food and support them if they full down,” he said.
