JUBA — South Sudan opposition leader Gen. Paul Malong Awan has this evening met Kenyan presidential candidate Raila Odinga and discussed efforts to achieve peace in the world’s youngest country.

Malong, a former South Sudan army chief, differed with President Salva Kiir in late 2017 to form an opposition group to fight for regime change, but has since camped in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, Gen. Dickson Gatluak, a senior member of South Sudan United Front/Army led by Malong said the two leaders discussed South Sudan peace process with Malong wishing Kenyans a peaceful elections.

“The Chairman and Commander in Chief of South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) Gen. Paul Malong Awan Anei has met this evening with Kenyan Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga,” Gatluak said.

“They discussed the peace process in South Sudan and also Gen. Malong wished the peace of the sisterly Republic of Kenya a peaceful elections which is taking place in August this year,” Gatluak added.

He further revealed that Odinga promised, during the meeting, that he will do his best, if elected, in making sure  that peace return to South Sudan once and for all.

“Hon. Odinga has promised use that he will work hard to help in realizing peace in South Sudan once and for all,” Gatluak further said. - Sudans Post

Tanzania has confirmed 20 cases of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that has claimed three lives, in the southern region of Lindi.

Health minister Ummy Mwalimu said test results from samples of patients in Ruangwa were positive for the disease.

Last week, samples of people presenting with fever, nosebleeds, headache and body fatigue tested negative for Covid-19, Ebola and Marburg, the ministry said, calling for calm as it worked to detect it.

“I would like to inform the public that sample testing from patients has confirmed the outbreak is leptospirosis field fever or ‘homa ya Mgunda’ as it is known in Swahili,” said Ms Mwalimu on Monday.

According to the ministry, more than 20 cases have been reported, with three deaths. Two patients are currently hospitalised.

Ms Mwalimu said contact tracing was ongoing.

“Up to now, no other person among contacts has shown any symptoms of the disease,” she added.

What is leptospirosis?

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

The bacteria are transmitted from animals to humans through cuts or abrasions in the skin, nose, or eyes that come in contact with water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals. But, the disease cannot be transmitted from one human to another.

What are the symptoms?

In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases.

The most common symptoms are fever, headache, chills, cough, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, rash, red and irritated eyes, and jaundice.

In some cases, the disease can also lead to kidney or liver failure, meningitis and respiratory distress, which can turn fatal.

Some infected persons, however, may have no symptoms at all, CDC says.

What is its incubation time?

A person is likely to present symptoms two days to four weeks after exposure. The illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms.

A patient with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhoea may recover for a time but become ill again.

In more severe cases, the illness lasts from a few days to three weeks or longer. Without treatment, recovery may take several months.

What is the treatment?

Mild cases of leptospirosis can be treated using prescribed antibiotics. Hospitalisation along with intravenous administration of antibiotics is required in severe cases. - BEATRICE MATERU, The EastAfrican

A section of the clergy is calling on the church to vote for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga as Kenya’s next head of state.

Under the umbrella of the House of Clergy Association, the bishops noted that contrary to political sentiments from their rivals, the former Prime Minister and his running mate Martha Karua are devout Christians even as they called on members of the public not to be misled into believing the campaign wedged against them.

The Association chaired by Bishop Elizabeth Thuiya in fact dismissed claims that Raila and his family were opposed to the Church. Instead, they argued that the family has been so supportive of the church and urged fellow clergymen to rally behind Raila and Martha describing them as ‘leaders who will bring God-fearing leadership in our country.’

“I want to let the clergy in Kenya know that Raila Amolo Odinga is a member of ACK, and the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was an evangelist, who volunteered to give land in his compound for a church to be built, which is currently under ACK,” Bishop Thuiya said at a press conference in Nairobi

In her rallying call to fellow clerics, she said “God gave me a revelation, last year, about Raila Amolo Odinga becoming the president of this country,”

She revisited previous calls by Odinga’s wife Ida that churches ought to be controlled. Bishop Thuiya charged that the statement had been misinterpreted toward selfish ends.

“We want to state that Raila Amolo Odinga and Mama Aida Odinga are supporting the churches, and that’s why at this time, they have helped lift the ban that was there to restrict churches from registration, to show their full support to the church, and nobody should have fear in voting and electing Raila Amolo Odinga,” she said

At the same time, the Bishops sought forgiveness from the first family on behalf of fellow church leaders and the country over what they termed as insults directed at them during this period of electioneering.

She disclosed that a number of religious leaders have initiated prayers for the nation, seeking peace and total protection of the citizenry as the country heads to the polls.

“As directed by the president we call upon the church and the nation at large to a time of fasting and prayer for with God all this are possible,” they said  By Eric Biegon, KBC