South Sudanese Bishop succumbs to Covid-19 at Arua hospital

Rt. Rev. Stanley Nelson Dada, the Bishop of Pentecostal Church under Yei Diocese in South Sudan has succumbed to COVID-19 at Arua Regional Hospital. Three of his children and more than ten contacts are receiving treatment under home-based care.

Rt. Rev. Stanley Nelson Dada, a resident of Ayiforo village, Ariwara Parish, Dadamu ward in Ayivu division breathed his last on Wednesday in the Isolation unit at Arua regional hospital after battling COVID-19 for nearly a week. Health workers at the hospital say that Bishop Dada was rushed to the hospital with high blood pressure and diabetic conditions.

However, upon testing, he was found COVID-19 positive and immediately placed in the isolation unit. Geoffrey Adiga, the Arua city Covid-19 surveillance focal person told URN that the Bishop’s three children also tested positive for COVID-19 and have been barred from traveling to Yei for the burial of their father.

Rose Anyisse, the Assistant Arua City Health Officer says that due to the reluctance of the members of the Bishop’s household, they have decided to send more health personnel to talk to them and sensitize them on the need to observe standard operating procedures aimed at stopping COVID-19 infection.

Dr. Gilbert Aniku, the acting director Arua Regional Referral Hospital says with such undetected cases like that of the late Bishop Dada, there is need to urgently move to the communities to conduct mass sensitization and testing.

Martin Oroch, the Arua Resident City Commissioner and Chairperson Arua City COVID-19 task force, says that with the few days of the partial lifting of the lockdown, many people in Arua City have moved on with their old lifestyles and ignored the SOPs.

Arua City recorded 14 new COVID-19 cases without any death in the past week. Cumulatively, the city has recorded 206 cases under home-based care, 64 recoveries, 7 deaths and 48 under Isolation at Arua Regional Referral hospital. Seven of the cases are refugees.