South Sudan News

After 6 years in Juba, WHO’s Abdinasir Abubakar (pictured above) understands better than most the impact war can have on people’s health - from shrapnel wounds and malnutrition to battered and beleaguered hospitals and clinics.

But the impact of the crisis that has raged in the world’s youngest country since late 2013 surpasses anything he saw during the two-decade civil war that tore Sudan in half.

The Ministry of Health in the Republic of South Sudan with technical support from WHO has initiated steps for early detection, investigation and containment of Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) within the country’s borders in the event of cases being reported. 

Juba, 08 Sept 2014: The WHO Country Representative for South Sudan, Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed, the Minister of Health Dr. Riek Gai Kok, the State Minister of Health for Western Equatoria State Hon. John Bono, Undersecretary of MoH and 2 members of the national parliamentary health committee have visited Yambio city, Western Equatoria state. On Sept 9, the team visited Nadapal, Gangura the border between South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the Ebola Preparedness and Response.

As part of continued efforts to improve access to health services and the quality of health care in South Sudan WHO supported the Ministry of Health (MoH) to host a national patient safety and quality consultative meeting over two days. This was the first of its kind in the Republic of South Sudan.

WHO in support of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, continues to enhance efforts to prevent haemorrhagic diseases. This comes amidst fresh concerns following reports of Marburg Virus Disease in neighbouring Uganda, in addition to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak that is currently affecting multiple countries, mostly in West Africa.

“Although no cases of both Marburg and Ebola have been reported in South Sudan, the two outbreaks are of concern as they place the country at greater risk,” said Dr. Abdi Aden Mohamed, WHO Representative for South Sudan.

Juba, South Sudan. 25 October 2014. - To commemorate UN day and in service to the community, WHO joined other UN agencies to provide integrated health services to the community in Kapuri, Juba, Central Equatoria State.  Although UN day falls on 24 October, WHO employees, alongside the rest of the UN family, contributed their time and expertise on Saturday 25 October to “serve the community we work in.”

This was in line with the local theme chosen by UN agencies working in South Sudan for this year’s UN Day: ‘UN! With the people, for the people.’

Wulu County, Lakes State, South Sudan, 3 December 2014 - The Ministry of Health (MOH), with support from WHO and partners on 3 December, launched the Cash Reward programme for the reporting of Guinea Worm Disease, and the implementation of community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) for Onchocerciasis (river blindness) control in Wulu County, Lakes State.

Juba, South Sudan, 11 December 2014 - In continued efforts to strengthen the health service delivery system in South Sudan, WHO supported the Ministry of Health to host a National Health Policy Consensus workshop.

“Imagine living with a snake-like worm about a metre long in your body?” It sounds unthinkable, but that is the painful reality that people affected by Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) have to live with. The question was posed by State Minister of Health for Western Equatoria, Dr. John Bona during the ninth annual review meeting of the Guinea Worm Programme in South Sudan, held under the theme: “Together for a final push to eliminate Guinea Worm Disease in South Sudan.”

WHO supported the Ministry of Health to conduct a review meeting on Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) in South Sudan from 27 to 28 January 2015. 
 
Addressing delegates at the meeting, WHO Representative to South Sudan Dr. Tarande Constant Manzila commended the Ministry of Health’s commitment to prioritize the implementation and strengthening of communicable disease surveillance through the adoption and implementation of the IDSR strategy at all levels.