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Campaign by Catholic Doctors for Goiter Patients Reveals South Sudan’s High Medical Demand

Some goiter patients receiving treatment at St. Daniel Comboni Hospital in South Sudan's Diocese of Wau

Catholic doctors in South Sudan’s Diocese of Wau have successfully conducted surgeries on more than 20 goiter patients in the East-Central African country in an initiative that has revealed a huge demand for the treatment in the country.

Addressing the press at St. Daniel Comboni Hospital on Wednesday, February 24, the health advisor for the Catholic Diocese of Wau, Tetahana Gaaba, noted that he had received numerous requests by patients who needed the service even as the 10-day exercise drew to a close.

Gaaba said that the campaign, which started with screening of patients on February 13, was nearing completion, with a majority of patients having undergone surgery and discharged.

“We started our campaign on February 13 and embarked on the surgeries shortly after. Up to now, we have operated on 29 patients and we will operate on three more today (Wednesday),” Gaaba told journalists, and added, “The campaign will end this evening.”

Sharing observations in their 10-day campaign, the medical advisor said, “Many people are suffering with goiter disease, which increases huge demands for operation in Western Bhar el Ghazal state.”

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“All patients were operated on successfully,” the health official said, and added, “I have to say the demand for this operation is really high. I have received numerous calls from the people who want to have an operation.”

The health advisor disclosed that this year alone, 32 patients will benefit from the initiative, which is a huge improvement on the number of patients operated on in previous years.

She assured the public of a similar campaign annually to rescue the vulnerable people in South Sudan especially in the Catholic Diocese of Wau.

Testifying the effectiveness of the medical service, Asunta Peter who had undergone surgery successfully said that she is now “feeling better than before because there is no pain in her body.”

Carnoli Anthony Peter, on the other hand, the last person to be operated, said he got strength to be operated after witnessing successful operation of the first patients.

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On behalf of his fellow patients, Peter acknowledged with appreciation the administration of Catholic Diocese of Wau “for the kind and charity work” done to them.