An Urgent National Concern: Surging Miscarriage Cases in Juba and Nationwide

By Evaluna Arek Dok

As a concerned citizen, I feel compelled to raise an issue that has quietly affected many families in recent years—one that is not only medical but also social, and potentially national in its impact.

In recent years, there has been a worrying increase in cases of miscarriage, particularly in urban areas like Juba. In the past, our mothers and grandmothers in the villages engaged in heavy daily work, such as fetching water from long distances, tending to gardens, grinding sorghum, and performing other physically demanding tasks. Yet, most carried their pregnancies to term and gave birth without complications.

Today, the situation is starkly different. Many women in the city struggle to conceive, often requiring medical assistance. Once pregnant, they are frequently advised to avoid even minor physical exertion to prevent miscarriage. While rest can sometimes help, in many cases, pregnancies are still lost.

Hospitals, especially the Obstetrics and Gynaecology units, are often filled with women facing this painful reality. Alarmingly, it sometimes feels as though the number of stillbirths and miscarriages could be approaching the number of healthy births.

This raises urgent questions:

1. Water Safety: Could the water from the River Nile, consumed by the entire city, be insufficiently treated, chlorinated, or protected from contamination?
2. Food Quality: Could the maize flour and other imported foods contain harmful substances or lack vital nutrients essential for pregnancy health?
3. Medical Interventions: Are the injections and medications given to pregnant women fully safe, tested, and suitable for our population?
4. Environmental Pollution: Is there contamination in the air we breathe, from dust, fuel emissions, or industrial waste, that could be affecting reproductive health?
5. Pharmaceutical Safety: Are the drugs available in our markets properly regulated and safe for expectant mothers?

Key Additional Questions for Authorities and Experts:

• Has any scientific study been conducted in South Sudan to determine the primary causes of this rise in miscarriages and stillbirths?
• If such research exists, can it be made public so citizens can understand the findings?
• If not, can the Ministry of Health and relevant medical institutions urgently commission such research?
• Can public health awareness campaigns be launched to help women understand and prevent possible risk factors?
• Are there policy gaps in food and drug regulation, environmental safety, or water treatment that need urgent attention?

As Paulo Coelho once wrote: “Whatever affects one person affects all humanity. One man’s suffering is the suffering of all humanity. What happens to someone today might happen to you tomorrow, because the Earth is our home.”

This is not just a women’s issue; it is a national issue. The future of our country depends on healthy mothers and healthy children. I therefore urge our leaders, health professionals, researchers, and every citizen to treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Let us unite in patriotism and humanity to identify the causes, address them, and ensure that every mother has the chance to bring life safely into this world.

The writer is a concerned citizen.