By Kei Emmanuel Duku
Vice President for Service Cluster, H.E Hussein Abedelbagi Akol Ayii, launched phase two of the Juba Teaching Hospital modernization and expansion project on Monday.
The project is part of the China-South Sudan Cooperation Agreement.
“This project will not only improve the lives of South Sudanese people but also strengthen the relationship between our government and the People’s Republic of China,” Akol said at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang stated that phase two will transform the hospital by constructing six specialized units to better serve patients.
These include a Specialized Outpatient and Inpatient Department, a Logistics Support Unit, a Medical Essential Equipment Supplies Unit, an Infectious Disease Unit, and a Medical Technological Support Unit.
“A Chinese State Construction and Engineering Company will undertake the construction work,” Ambassador Ma said.
“This includes renovating and expanding the Juba Teaching Hospital, covering a total area of about 2.3 hectares with a total construction area of about 1,600 square meters.”
Ma emphasized that the project will strengthen South Sudan-China bilateral relations under the cooperation agreement signed in the past 12 years.
“Today’s event is another important milestone for our nations,” he said. “China remains committed to supporting South Sudan’s healthcare sector and other areas under the framework of China-Africa cooperation and other global initiatives.”
For his part, Augustino Jadalla Wani, the Governor of Central Equatorial State, highlighted the project’s potential to improve healthcare delivery.
“The expansion project will help reduce infant mortality rates, combat diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” he remarked. “This groundbreaking project aligns with improving the lives of people across the country.”
Governor Jadalla urged citizens to utilize the improved healthcare services by “Seeking medical attention within South Sudan will help reduce costs for patients,” he said.
“We need similar services in referral hospitals across the states to reduce the burden on Juba Teaching Hospital. This initiative marks the beginning of significant improvements in our healthcare system.”
Meanwhile, the National Minister of Health, Yolanda Awel Deng stated that the administration of JTH has been crippled by the challenge of solid waste and garbage management, and she urged patients and the public not to litter the facility once it is completed.
“Our biggest problem as a citizen of this country is, we thought when the facility is constructed the public expect the government or the management of the JTH to take care of it alone which is a wrong perception. We need a mindset change, keep the environment clean by throwing waste in the designated places but not all over the compound,” said Awel.