The aid group Doctors Without Borders today announced the opening of a cholera treatment centre in Juba's Munuki Block A in response to a cholera outbreak declared by the health ministry on 23 June.

Doctors Without Borders, also known by its French acronym MSF, said that residents who suspect they may be suffering from cholera can receive free, high-quality medical treatment at the facility.

MSF Head of Mission Paul Critchley said his organization is working with the Ministry of Health to set up the facility to provide urgently needed medical services to the Munuki community. The 800 square meter facility can be expanded up to 150 bed capacity depending on need.

MSF has employed over 130 South Sudanese to construct the site.

Dr John Rumunu of the Ministry of Health said that as of Friday the number of cholera cases in Juba has reached 733 and 33 deaths. He added that in Bor there were 59 cases with one death.

“We now have recorded 792 cholera cases and 43 deaths. We also have watery diarrhea cases reported from Torit, Kajo Keji and other places but they are tasted negative for cholera bacteria,” he said, without mentioning the number of diarrhea cases reported in Torit and Kajo Keji.