Blue Nile, September 30 (Darfur24)
Dengue fever cases in the Blue Nile cities of Damazin and Roseires have exceeded 6,000, according to civil society activists and emergency room volunteers, amid the rainy season, stagnant water, and deteriorating health services.
The activists and volunteers told Darfur24 that cases of dengue and malaria have increased in both cities, with infections also reported in Tayba Al-Balilab village in Roseires locality.
The latest estimate is significantly higher than the official figures released in July. Bilal Al-Daw Al-Qaja, director of the region’s General Administration for Emergencies and Epidemic Control, reported 681 confirmed dengue cases in Damazin, along with more than 600 suspected cases recorded since June. One death had been reported at the time.
Health facilities in Damazin and Roseires are facing growing pressure, with shortages of medicines, medical supplies and health workers, according to residents and emergency volunteers. Patients are also struggling with the rising cost of treatment and diagnostic tests.
The situation is particularly concerning for displaced people living in crowded shelters, where poor sanitation and stagnant water can increase mosquito breeding and disease transmission.
Residents called for intensified spraying campaigns, removal of mosquito breeding sites, and increased supplies of medicines, intravenous fluids, and diagnostic tests, as well as stronger health services in areas hosting displaced people.