Wilson America is father of 7 children with nodding syndrome, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Abawo (aged between 15 or 16) suffers from nodding syndrome, and the bandage wrapped around her left hand conceals a severe burn injury, which she sustained after falling into a fire during a seizure, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018.
Zaina (18) suffers from nodding syndrome, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018.
Elina (28) suffers from nodding syndrome and shows the burns she sustained after falling in a fire during a seizure, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018.
Wilson America’s son, Sylvester (24), suffers from nodding syndrome, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Disability field officer for the Sudan Evangelical Mission (SEM), a local non governmental organisation that works with persons with disabilities in the Mundri area, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Zaina (18) suffers from nodding syndrome, and the injuries on her hands and arm were sustained after falling into a fire during a seizure, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018.
From left to right: Clement, Juma and Sylvester America, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Selivia (22) suffers from nodding syndrome, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018.
Selivia’s four siblings also suffer from the disease. She sustained the injuries on her left arm after falling into a fire during a seizure.
Wilson America and his wife, Janet, stand next to the grave of their eldest son, Charlie, who died from nodding syndrome, after suffering from a series of seizures that lasted for 72 hours, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Daughters of Wilson America’s brother, along with Wilson’s own daughter, Samia, sit in front of a tree in their family compound, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Wilson (64) is father of 7 children with nodding syndrome, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Joanna holds the anti-convulsant medication she takes whenever it is available, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Due to the fact that the cause of nodding syndrome is not yet known, treatment is focussed on managing the disease’s symptoms.
Doris Clement carries her son, Gbokosoro, who has nodding syndrome, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018.
A relative, who does not suffer from nodding syndrome, cooks porridge for lunch, while Joanna Julius looks on, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Porridge is cooked for lunch, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018. Food or hunger is one of the main triggers of a nodding syndrome seizure, the other being cold.
Mary Julius eats porridge for lunch, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Sylvester Wilson lies on his specially adapted bed, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Elina Salowa (28) with her mother, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018. Elina suffers from nodding syndrome.
Sarah Dawa (25) Sudan Evangelical Mission (SEM) field worker, Mundri, South Sudan, 2018.
Abraham (20), during class, Mundri District, South Sudan, 2018. Abraham suffers from nodding syndrome.