By Chol D. Johnson
The National Ministry of health has launched an action to participate in general cleaning campaign at the ministry in Juba.
In a press statement made by, Kennedy Gaaniko Baime, the undersecretary in the Ministry of Health emphasized that the general cleaning campaign was to keep the environment clean and maintain a healthful well-being of the people.
“We need to pass this message that, this is not only about general cleaning, it’s a strategic action and about the leadership, Sanitation, good healthful well-being” he stated.
Gaaniko underscored that the campaign was about the World Health Organization (WHO) action plans which represent. Sustainable Development Goals.
Gaaniko mentioned that the mandate of the Ministry of Health is to come out with a strategic action plan in order for other ministries to take it seriously.
“We are doing a strategic action, which is part of the mandate of the Ministry of Health to come out with this action plan so that all of us can take it seriously” he mentioned.
He urged all the government institutions, the ministries, and private sectors to take this cleaning as the message from the Ministry of Health for the new year 2026.
Gaaniko further added that the campaign would reach the hospitals in Malakal, Wau Hospitals and all the state hospitals including the clinics.
“Let us lead by example, to send a message that the health starts with health people and the health people are the Ministry of Health” Gaaniko expressed.
He underlined that the cleaning campaign has boosted the morale of the staff at the ministry, motivated and also created productivity to the civil servants the ministry in general.
Gaaniko highlighted that the campaign was about disease prevention because most diseases are being transmitted through untidy environment, citing malaria as one of the examples.
He added that malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the Republic of South Sudan. But how can you prevent malaria and cholera through this campaign.
“We need to inform the public that let us clean our houses, let us clean the environment of the communities where we are” he added.
Gaaniko appreciated the staff and partners for their turnup and for supporting the general cleaning campaign.
Dr. Jefri Regwi, the World Health Organisation representative, reiterated that WHO stands hand in hand with the Ministry in ensuring the health services reach the people of South Sudan.
“On behalf of the World Health Organization country office for South Sudan, I would like to really congratulate the Ministry of Health.
Regwi commended that the Ministry of Health for taking ahead this cleanliness campaign, starting with the ministerial compound.
She noted that country still grappling with the issues of cholera, urging the Ministry to keep community clean and safe.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gift Gibson Natana, the Director General of Juba Teaching Hospital said that the environment must be kept clean in order for services to remain clean.
“We know that our environment must be clean because the services that we are delivering must be delivered in a clean environment” Gibson said.