Government needs to walk the talk on increasing funding toward the health sector

The health sector in South Sudan is ailing and weak due to years of underfunding, this has resulted into frustration and despair for many poor households who cannot cope with the expensive private healthcare providers.

The government has consistently underfunded the critical health sector, while increasing the budget for the security sector over the years.

Security remains currently the top priority of South Sudan, but this should not be to the detriment of critical sectors such as health, education and agriculture.

Several people are dying of preventable diseases in government run health facilities due to lack of medicines.

In addition, the poor working conditions and meager salaries are forcing the few qualified doctors, nurses and midwives to migrate to well -paying jobs in the private sector and humanitarian sector.

The government needs to walk the talk by at least raising annual budget of health from the current 1.3 percent to at least 7 percent. This would improve healthcare services at the community level which is important to reduce congestion at main referral facilities.

Investing in quality health facilities is a source of medical tourism that earns the government revenue. This is food for thought for the top leaders in the transition unity government.