Health
South Sudan's national healthcare according to statistics gathered by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is one of the worst compared to other developing nations in Africa. We have been known for neglecting the most vital sector of our society, as in healthcare. We have not developed or fully funded this life-altering healthcare sector due to the government producing excuses for the country's lack of infrastructure development and qualified practitioners. Our civilians are at the mercy of aid workers and poorly trained and unsupervised healthcare practitioners.
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According to Voice of America, one of the reasons our healthcare sector is not developed is because allegedly we have a lack of funds because the government can only allocate 2.6 percent of the government's budget to health according to MSF. Health officials have stated that since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the government of South Sudan had no adequate money to develop the healthcare sector. The Health officials have also pointed out that it is the aid workers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have been providing healthcare to the best of their abilities and limited resources to the people of South Sudan.
Médecins Sans Frontières, meaning Doctors Without Borders, is a non-governmental organization solely focused on delivering medical care and assistance in developing nations such as South Sudan. The MSF facilities are in Lankien, Agok, Bentiu, and Malakal Protection of Civilian sites and the current 23 facilities are found throughout South Sudan. This medical non-governmental organization collaborates and supports the Ministry of Health in the Juba Teaching Hospital, assisting them with water and sanitation. They are also in partnership with the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL)—the primary testing facility in the country, and they will provide their own MSF medical supervisor.
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According to many research and statistics on South Sudan in the area of healthcare, the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO) and Médecins Sans Frontières, meaning Doctors Without Borders (MSF), to name a few, have been providing healthcare, medical assistance, support and advice to the South Sudanese government to upgrade to the 21-century medically. Many NGOs, charities, societies and so on have saturated the South Sudanese healthcare sector due to poor regulation and governance. As a sovereign nation, we are not sovereign medically and in the healthcare sector. The practice of medicine is not solely in our control due to the nonchalant behaviour of the current regime in South Sudan.
The only solution to the poor management and lack of development and investment in the healthcare sector is the South Sudanese government's complete control and responsibility. We are no longer a southern region in need of aid and political and military assistance. We are a sovereign nation with resources that are being poorly managed and misused by corrupt government officials. We have poor leadership that is nonchalant as our medical future is in the hands and mercy of foreigners. The betterment and longevity of our population in healthcare are by investing in this vital sector of our society.
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We will develop an integrated National Health Service (NHS) that will control the healthcare sector and ensure our population receives the proper healthcare and services all over the country. We will develop our prenatal health care to ensure the health of the mother and child since we have a high infant mortality rate at the moment. We will invest in developing infrastructure to meet the requirements of 21st-century hospitals, health centres and dispensaries standards. We will establish a National Drug Authority (NDA) to regulate the production, sale, importation and commercialization of medicine in South Sudan. We will also recognize and implement alternative medicine when suitable for the patient's medical needs or said population. We will have an inclusive approach to healthcare, and traditional knowledge of medicine that we can incorporate that will be regulated.
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In conclusion, the medical future of South Sudan rests on the government of South Sudan to invest in people, infrastructure and services to bring the population the best healthcare facilities, medical practitioners and services suitable to our people. The solution to our healthcare sector's failing and poor management rests on the government which has complete control of the national resources and revenues. Funds will be allocated to the construction, maintenance and sustainability of the healthcare sector in South Sudan.