South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The governor of Jonglei state, Dr Riek Gai Kok, announced on Wednesday that the upcoming rollout of the Health System Transformation Project, supported by the World Bank through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will allow for the recruitment of health professionals to enhance service delivery.
“As part of this initiative, five medical specialists will be recruited to strengthen service delivery. With this investment, we expect a significant reduction in patient referrals to Juba,” Kok stated during his routine visit to Bor State Hospital.
“In fact, we anticipate that Bor Hospital will soon begin receiving referrals from neighbouring regions such as Lakes State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” he added, noting that the health transformation project will improve supervision.
Reath Kong, the Director General for the state Ministry of Health in Jonglei, revealed that there has been an improvement in health service delivery despite the numerous challenges facing the health system across the state.
“We face challenges in the laboratory and pharmacy, particularly due to limited medical supplies. However, with support from the state government and our partners, we are committed to addressing these gaps,” Kong said.
Akuot Bulabek Deng, a Tearfund health worker, expressed gratitude for the Governor’s visit, stating that it is important for Jonglei authorities to witness firsthand how health services are being implemented across the state.
“We remain dedicated to fulfilling the hospital’s mandate and improving care for our community,” Deng remarked.
Dr Benjamin Malek, the Chairperson of the Specialized Committee for Health and Population in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, stated that health services will continue to improve in the country.
“We are optimistic that under Governor Riek Gai Kok’s leadership, health services will continue to advance. We also encourage our medical professionals in Bor to remain committed and deliver their best,” Malek said.
The Jonglei government has commenced routine checks, inspections, proper supervision, thorough assessments, and appropriate regulation of health facilities and health training institutions at Bor State Hospital in a bid to improve the quality of health services in the state.