A spot of rain

Thursday 19th August

No wonder the malaria is so bad, there is flooding every where it is like one giant lake. We have now lost 8 children in 5 days all with malaria. It is just so hard for the mothers to get to the hospital through the water so by the time they do reach us it is too late. Tragic.

The worst thing is that the malaria program that was run so well last year by an overseas aid group has folded, lack of funds and a promise that it would be continued by local government!!! They used to distribute nets and give education to the locals. There was always someone in the villages who had an emergency supply of medication until they could get to the hospitals. Apparently this year the local government, practically non-existent, has been unable to do anything, they just have not got the expertise yet to take projects on like this. It will all take time. In the meantime children will continue to die in large numbers....

There is talk that the water will cut the road soon to Rumbek. It is not only the rain here but the water coming down from the Congo. Just hope we can get through on Sunday. Our flight is not until Monday but don’t want to take the risk of leaving the journey until Monday.