Jonglei state commissioner mobilises support for health centre

August 5, 2015 (BOR) – The commissioner for Twic East county in South Sudan’s Jonglei state has launched a campaign to upgrade Panyagor primary health center, which was destroyed by fire in April.

“For it to be hospital, we need it to be capable of addressing major cases of malaria, diarrhea, and even some cases that need surgery. We have to build Out Patients Department (OPD), good pharmacy, Maternity, HIV/AIDS facilities and the doctors’ quarters, all these are not there now”, Akoi told Sudan Tribune from Panyagor Monday.

“As a community, we need to do things on our own. The people in the diaspora, particularly in United States and Australia should join us in this. This is the only facility that can rescue our lives as we are completely cut off from Bor by road inaccessibility”, he added.

In May, the state ministry of health proposed the upgrading of some primary healthcare centers, including the one based at Panyagor, which is the current county headquarter.

Meanwhile, only eight of the 16 primary health care units existing in Twic East county are currently operating, according to the Twic East county commissioner.

South Sudan reportedly has one of the lowest development indicators globally, with about 3 million children lacking access to healthcare. In recent years, however, the young nation’s health budget has been below 5% percent, which is still below the Abuja declaration of at least 15% funding allocated to health by all African countries.

(ST)