South Sudan lauds rising number of trained health workers
By Ngor Arol Garang
August 5, 2011 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s ministry of health on Friday lauded the rising number of trained health workers in the nascent state, saying there has been notable increase in the number of qualified health workers in various parts of the country.
“Yes we believe that the independence of south Sudan comes with a lot of daunting tasks and challenges. The expectations of our people are high. They expect the government which they have supported throughout to deliver at least basic health services. Our people needs nothing short than health, education, food production and indeed transport network”, said Garang Deng Dut, a medical officer with ministry of health of the government of south Sudan.
He thanks to the government’s move to employ all the graduates from medical institutes every year. The government of south Sudan under the wise leadership of our Joshua, president of the Government of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, is dedicating efforts to train and transform all health system and ensure that all trained health practitioners are employed each year.
This is commendable efforts indeed. The trend is a positive move in efforts to reduce maternal and newborn deaths, says Dut.
Mr. Dut, who was speaking during a one to one interview with Sudan Tribune at the premises of the ministry of Health in Juba, said a recent survey showed that Yei County, Central Equatoria State, for example, has registered a 10 per cent increase in number of health workers. The number of health workers we have in Yei is encouraging. All the health workers in Yei hold relevant nursing certificates.
This is because health training center is within reach. The communities around Yei are benefiting a lot from the training because trainees are able to utilize the knowledge gained during the period for which they undergo training, he said.
He, however, noted that dispensaries in rural areas, required at least two clinical officers, two nurses, two midwives and at least one medical attendant but most of these criterions have remained a mere dream and explained that “A survey conducted by the ministry of health in collaborating with other partners including World Health Organization(WHO) in 2010 established that in reality some 29 of 284 mothers were attended by one medical attendant who was a worker with no midwifery, nursing or medical skills”.
According to him, in 2010, county hospitals required 2160 workers but there were 1243, health centers required 1,119 but there were 557 and dispensaries required 10,000 but there were 332.
“The other assessment report we carried out in May, 2011, contributed to the government changing the employment policy to employing all graduates from health institutions with immediate effect. Employment was frozen in the half of 2010 because of financial constraints,” she said.
The medical practitioner added that the move has helped to reduce maternal mortality ratio from 378 in 2005 to 254/100,000 live births last year. He also noted that the challenge remains on retaining the few available qualified staff especially in remote areas.
He further added that the government is committed in improving the delivery of reproductive and child health. “There is a strong political commitment and in this case, health care services to pregnant mothers and children under five years of age are provided free of charge,” he said.
Statistics show that Maternal Mortality in the country has reached 454 in every 100,000 live births and newborn deaths have reached 26 in every 1000 live births.
“Over 50 per cent of deliveries occur at home with unskilled personnel while access to qualified health worker (midwife) during childbirth is only 51 per cent. The move to employ more health workers will address these challenges,” he said
(ST)