South Sudan News

On a cold Tuesday night, at about 12:00 am, in Malek village, Ms Rebecca Akeer, 26 years old gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in her house in the absence of a skilled birth attendant in February 2020. Malek is located about 41 km north from Rumbek, the state capital in Lakes State.

It happened hours after a nearby Malek Primary Health Care Unit (PHCU) was closed following inter-communal fight which left medical supplies destroyed and health workers were forced to leave their homes due to ensuing conflict.

Juba, 27 April 2020 – Dr Olushayo Olu, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for South Sudan paid a courtesy call on Honorable Elizabeth Acuei Yol, Minister of Health.

During the call, Dr Olu congratulated the Honorable Minister on her appointment and conveyed the Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti greetings.

Dr Olu and the Honorable Minister of Health, both renewed their commitment to support the health sector in South Sudan.

Juba – The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with South Sudanese health authorities to expand capacity and infrastructure at the Infectious Disease Unit in the capital Juba to help enhance the country’s emergency response to COVID-19.

Juba, 22 April 2020 - In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the country, WHO in support of the Ministry of Health prepositioned COVID-19 supplies as part of the national COVID-19 preparedness and response plan to twenty different locations including Juba to collect samples, package and transport for testing in Juba.

Juba, 21 April 2020 - COVID-19 cases have been reported in 52 African countries; many having wide-spread community transmission. 

Given the high risk of spread of COVID-19 in South Sudan, expanding the Dr John Garang Infectious Diseases Unit (IDU) is one of the key activities which will help protect South Sudanese citizens and residents.

As coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  spreads rapidly across Africa, the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other partners have taken the necessary steps to mitigate the risk and interrupt the transmission of COVID-19.  

South Sudan confirmed its first COVID-19 case on 5 April 2020. As of 10 April 2020, four cases of COVID-19 have been reported. The country continues to face a huge burden of communicable disease outbreaks. 

Juba, 05 April 2020 - The Ministry of Health of South Sudan has reported the country’s first case of COVID-19. The patient, a 29-year old female returned from Netherlands on 28 February 2020 via Addis Ababa.  

The patient developed fever, cough, headache and shortness of breath and was identified by the authorities on 2 April 2020 that subsequently led to confirmation on 4 April 2020 by the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba.  

She has no history of underlying or pre-existing illness. She is in isolation and is in good health. 

Juba, 4 February 2020 – With the aim of vaccinating 2.5 million children against measles, a nationwide vaccination campaign is kicked off today. The campaign is a cooperation between the Ministry of Health, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other partners.  In addition to the vaccine, the children will also receive vitamin A supplement and deworming tablets.

Juba, 31 January 2020 – In an effort to strengthen port health services, South Sudan has set up thermal scanner at Juba International Airport to enhance capacities of detecting potential public health emergencies of international concern in compliance to the regional and international health standards.  

Under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), Member States are required to establish and maintain emergency response capacities at designated airports and ground crossings to preserve public health security.

Juba, 23 January 2020 – A delegation of the Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for poliomyelitis eradication starts a two-week visit to South Sudan to verify the accuracy and extensiveness of the complete national documentation for polio-free status prepared by the Republic of South Sudan.

During the visit, the ARCC delegation will thoroughly review the complete national documentation prepared by South Sudan.