New Lakes state hospital closes days after official opening

July 18, 2014 (RUMBEK) – A hospital in South Sudan’s Lakes states has suspended operations, barely a week after its official opening by president Salva Kiir.

High operations costs, officials said, resulted into the closure of Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital in the capital, Rumbek. The facility was opened when the president visited Lake states last week.

The hospital was reportedly forced to halt normal functioning due to fuel shortage to run its generators. About $1,500 is reportedly required daily to operate these generators.

Paul Ater, the hospital’s director general, was quoted saying they would resume operations when the government provides fuel.

(ST)