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The health system and infrastructure in the Republic of South Sudan

The health system and infrastructure in the Republic of South Sudan is in a terrible shape and it has been made

worst by the civil war which has severely affected the country’s capacity to develop the health sector. South Sudan is currently facing a severe shortage of all categories of trained health professionals, including physicians, laboratory technicians, nurses and midwives. We currently rely on inadequately trained or low skilled health workers. There is also an inequitable distribution of health workers both among the states, and between the urban and rural areas, where the majority of the population lives.

The Sunrise Democratic Party shall address these pressing challenges facing the health sector, by developing and strengthening the health systems so that it is able to deal with all the health challenges such as HIV/AIDS and overall sexual health, mental health, TB, water borne diseases, maternal and child health, medical supply chain management.

The SDP considers investment in the health sector as a key economic investment since sustainable economic development requires a healthy Human capital. Therefore, the SDP government shall address the following fundamental pillars of health systems:.

Infrastructure and equipment: Embarked on a robust health infrastructure development program by building, one referral well equipped modern hospital in each country and clinics in all the payams, one big main referral Hospitals with specialist section in each state capital. Modernise and rehabilitate the existing hospitals in Juba and other urban centres in South Sudan through refurbishment and re-equipment.

Training of health personnel: Establishment of one medical training college in each state where the health personnel will undergo the necessary training in order to strengthen and rehabilitate the health system for the sake of continuous improvement of health and quality of life of the South Sudanese. Train and re-train Health workers to keep up-to-date knowledge of health matters for the benefit of the citizens.
Human Resource Recruitment and development: Recruitment of enough health and, medical personnel and deploy them equitably across the country. Provision of on-the-job trainings for clinical officers, midwives, etc.

Health Security: Established the South Sudan Centre for Disease Control and prevention to carry out the function of disease control and prevention, enhance epidemic preparedness and response and to recommend health policy. Prevent, detect, and control diseases of public health importance. It will also carry out disease surveillance and intelligence for the health of the public.

The SDP will develop and strengthen the health systems in South Sudan to achieve the aspiration for health for everyone everywhere (universal health coverage).

This will include Infrastructure development, Human Resource improvement, enhanced supply chain management, resilient health security measures, healthcare financing, research and governance.

  • Initiate the construction of health facilities with adequate medical personnel and modern equipment;

  • Initiate the programme of upgrading the existing medical infrastructure and ensure that every county all across South Sudan has a modern hospital;

  • Enhance good governance in the health sector.

  • Carry out periodic auditing for all the medical stores all over South Sudan;

  • Increase the number of well-trained medical personnel annually;

  • Enhance the qualifications of medical personnel, by sponsoring existing health workers for specialised training or refreshment training;

  • Work in partnership with the private sector to invest in programs that reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity;

  • Provide the conducive environments for the private sector to invest and operate in the health industry;

  • Interlink all pharmacies and dispensaries to enable surveillance of drug sale and usage as well as curtailing theft of drugs from Government institutions;

  • Promote basic hygiene practices and nutrition;

  • Establish medical emergency services, by ensuring that all main hospitals have ambulance services with the well-trained paramedics;

  • Ensure provision and use of sound sanitation facilities as health awareness campaign is launched countrywide with the support of traditional leaders and communities;

  • Introduce facilities for rehabilitation counselling, especially for drug and alcohol related problems;

  • Provide free ante-natal care for pregnant women, free health care for babies and children up to school going age and for the aged and the disabled and free treatment for those infected with diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.