MP calls for upgrading of Maiwut Primary Healthcare Center

By Awan Achiek

The MP representing Maiwut County of Upper Nile State in the National Legislative Assembly on Monday requested the government to elevate the status of Maiwut Primary Healthcare Unit to hospital level in order to address health service delivery gaps.

Gatbel Reak Chuol, a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit decried the demotion of Maiwut healthy facility to a primary health unit by the State Ministry of Health.

Chuol said the decision was made following the withdrawal of International Committee of the Redcross (ICRC), and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) that have been running the health facility for over 10 years since outbreak of conflict in December 2013.

“My appeal to the Minister of Health in Juba, and his director or undersecretary has to re-align the budget. We want Maiwut to remain as a hospital, because the building is there, the public is there, and the land is there,” he said.

He disclosed upgrading the health facility will be a positive step in addressing serious health service gap amid the overwhelming number of patients seeking services there.

Chuol said that they have enough doctors and medical directors to run the hospital.

“My County is like any County in Upper Nile State, and is the same as the other 13 Counties. So we are being run by medical directors and we have plenty of medical directors,” he said.