By Kei Emmanuel Duku
In a stinging critique of South Sudan’s healthcare system, one of the country’s leading academic voices has warned that the nation’s premier referral hospital is failing, calling for an immediate management takeover to stop the decay.
Speaking during the World Cancer Day celebrations, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, Professor John Akech, delivered a passionate plea for a total reform of the Juba Teaching Hospital.
He argued that the current state of the facility is a national “challenge” that requires the government to hand back control of specialized wards to the university to ensure better standards of care.
The Juba Teaching Hospital, the largest public health facility in the country, has long struggled with severe management issues, including a lack of modern equipment, poor infrastructure, and a shortage of specialized staff. For years, patients have complained of an environment that lacks basic hygiene and adequate medical supplies, often forcing those who can afford it to seek treatment abroad.
Professor Akech highlighted a sad decline in the hospital’s history, noting that in the 1980s, the university was deeply involved in the hospital’s operations. At that time, the university managed five specialized wards, including surgery and implants. However, since South Sudan gained independence, those wards have been taken away.
Expressing his frustration over the current restrictions, Professor Akech told the audience, “And now, under the independent South Sudan, they have all been snapped up. And we are not allowed to run anything.” He explained that if the university were given control again, they could prove that high-quality care is possible. “Otherwise, if we were given these wards, we could actually demonstrate what can be done,” he added.
The Vice Chancellor’s proposal is not just about academics; it is about saving lives. He is calling for a new partnership between the University of Juba and the Ministry of Health to create a joint management board. This board would include the hospital, the ministry, and the university to ensure the facility is run professionally.
Professor Akech revealed that he has tried to reach out to government leaders before, though he has yet to speak with the current minister. “I have not contacted the current minister, but I have approached two previous ministers with the concept of how the University of Juba can partner with the Juba Teaching Hospital,” he said. He believes that fixing the management of this one hospital could provide a blueprint for the entire country. “If we can solve the problem of Juba Teaching Hospital, I’m sure we will be able to roll it out to other sectors,” he insisted.
The push for better management is also linked to the country’s lack of cancer care. Currently, South Sudan lacks the essential infrastructure to treat the deadly disease, leaving thousands of patients without hope. Professor Akech urged the government to use this moment to invest in medical schools so they can start cancer treatment programs.
He emphasized that the country needs to train its own experts in areas like radiology and radiotherapy. “I would like our government to support medical schools in our country with infrastructure and support for them to be able to establish cancer treatment programs,” Akech said. He noted that teaching biomedical engineering and other sciences is vital for managing the disease.
The Vice Chancellor stated that improving healthcare is not a favor to the people, but a necessary duty for the nation’s future. “By solving this, we are not giving any gift services to the elderly, but we are really taking a very positive action,” he declared.