By Alan Clement
Health authorities in Aweil South County have praised recent improvements at Malek Alel Primary Health Care Centre, highlighting better access to treatment for residents of Malek Alel and neighbouring villages.
According to a statement from the National Ministry of Health, the developments are part of ongoing upgrades under the government-led Health System Transformation Project (HSTP).
Aweil South County Commissioner Luka Thel Thel said the facility is now providing more reliable care for common illnesses and maternal consultations.
“Women and children in the area are now receiving quality medical treatment,” he said in a statement describing the changes as a “significant improvement” supported by donors and implementing partners of the HSTP.
The HSTP, implemented through the Ministry of Health, is designed to reinforce primary healthcare delivery across the country in response to persistent gaps in staffing, long travel distances to functioning health facilities and high rates of preventable illnesses.
In Northern Bahr el Ghazal, these challenges are compounded by seasonal flooding, limited transport infrastructure and heavy dependence on small rural health centres.
Malek Alel and the wider Aweil South area have historically faced limited access to formal healthcare, with many residents relying on under-resourced facilities or travelling to Aweil town for treatment.
The county’s dispersed rural settlements, poor road networks and frequent isolation during the rainy season have made timely access to maternal care, malaria treatment and emergency services particularly difficult.
Officials noted that this context has made improvements at Malek Alel PHCC especially critical for the surrounding population.
County officials and aid agencies operating in Aweil South report that the strengthened PHCC has improved access to treatment for malaria, respiratory infections and pregnancy-related complications.
Malek Alel PHCC is among several frontline facilities supported under the HSTP. County officials say the improvements are expected to contribute to broader efforts to strengthen primary healthcare in other underserved areas of Aweil South and the wider region.