Torit hospital hit by food shortage

June 21, 2013 (TORIT) – Torit hospital in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state is facing severe food shortage to feed inpatients, the state’s health minister, Dr. Margaret Itto, has said.

Hospital authorities have admitted that inpatients are discharging themselves in order to return home, due to the lack of food. Patients whose families are unable to pay for immediate attention are said to be the worst affected.

Itto confirmed the alarming food shortages over the last two months due to lack of operational funds caused by the national government’s failure to release funds on time.

The minister added that state finance ministry has informed that there was no money at hand to aid her ministry.

She called on non-governmental organisations operating in the field of health in the state to join hands in order to help rescue the situation, before it runs out of control.

Torit state hospital is the main government hospital in Eastern Equatoria serving all its eight counties. However, the hospital still lacks several medical items and staff to provide better health services to citizens.

(ST)