South Sudan: “I almost lost my life while I was pregnant”

“Hepatitis E attacked [me]; I almost lost my life while I was pregnant in September,” says Nyakuola. “I was diagnosed at the hospital. I thought it was only symptoms of my pregnancy, because my body was aching and I had a fever. I went for a blood test and that’s when the hepatitis E was discovered.”    

Nyakuola’s pregnancy meant that she was in the highest-risk category if she caught hepatitis E, a water-borne disease. Deaths had already occurred in the community since the outbreak was first declared in Old Fangak. The virus had continued to circulate due to a lack of sustainable clean water supply and waste management in the flood affected region.  

“We are being affected by water. Because of water that is why we have many health issues,” says Nyakuola.  

“I was experiencing abdominal pain, pain in the chest and an infection in both kidneys. This also affects the baby, and the mother feels like the baby wants to come out.” In Nyakuola’s mind, “the fate of my baby was the same as mine. If I died, the baby would’ve died.”

But Nyakuola had the advantage of being vaccinated before she conceived. She wasn’t fully vaccinated, but had managed to participate in two of the three MSF campaign rounds.

“The vaccination announcement was explained in the whole area. People came to us here to campaign and to give us information. People in this community were vaccinated, all girls starting from the age of 15 and above. We were all vaccinated,” says Nyakuola.  

“It was a personal decision to get vaccinated although other people did not want to receive their vaccination. Those who lived in the city or town before knew the importance of the vaccine, but others did not. Those who have witnessed people who have been vaccinated and live have made the decision to also get the vaccine.” 

In line with all the other services MSF provides, the vaccination was free. For a family like Nyakuola’s it would be impossible to stay healthy without free healthcare. She says, “One of the difficult things is that my husband is unemployed. He gets nothing because he is a disabled person. He lost his legs to a snake bite.

“I thank and appreciate MSF. If it wasn’t for MSF I wouldn’t be here today.”