Chad health ministry reports 14 dengue deaths amid rising fatalities
Official figures from October 26 state 14 dengue deaths, while one mosque held 26 funerals on October 30.
Chad's Ministry of Public Health reported 14 deaths from dengue fever as of October 26, a figure sharply contrasted by local observations. Cemeteries in N'Djamena are reportedly full, and on October 30, the Markaz mosque alone conducted funeral prayers for 26 deceased individuals.
Hospitals, including the National Reference Hospital and private clinics, are overwhelmed, with patients reportedly being asked to lie on the floor. Families are seeking treatment while the government remains silent on the escalating crisis, offering no public response or appeal for international aid.
While provinces face intercommunal conflicts over resources, the health crisis is seen by some as a way for these issues to resolve themselves. Meanwhile, government officials met at the Radisson Blu hotel to discuss their actions, seemingly detached from the reality on the ground.
Why it mattersThe official reported death toll of 14 from dengue fever is starkly different from the 26 funerals held at a single mosque in N'Djamena on October 30, indicating a significant undercount of fatalities.