By Innocent Bidal Emmanuel
A high-level delegation from the government-led Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP), supported by the World Bank and a consortium of donor partners, has concluded an assessment visit to Wau, issuing a strong call to accelerate health workers’ welfare, strengthen local health services, and increase domestic financing commitments.
Led by Dr. Oromo Francis, Undersecretary of the National Ministry of Health, the mission convened national and state health authorities, development partners, and key stakeholders to gather first-hand information on the progress, challenges, and priorities affecting health service delivery in the region.
A central issue raised during the visit was the persistent delay in incentive payments for frontline health workers. The delegation called for an immediate review of current payment mechanisms to ensure timely, predictable compensation and boost staff morale.
Upgrading Wau Teaching Hospital and improving regional referral systems. Enhancing disease surveillance and response capabilities in border and hard-to-reach areas.
Sustaining the Boma Health Initiative and reinforcing the frontline community health workforce. Increasing state and community leadership to ensure long-term service sustainability.
As South Sudan navigates shifting financial landscapes, the delegation emphasised the need for sustainable domestic funding, equitable support for underserved facilities, and cross-sector collaboration to tackle broader public health determinants.
To ensure field findings yield tangible results, the mission called for a formal tracking mechanism to follow up on agreed action items.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Ministry of Health pledged to continue engaging frontline workers, addressing systemic gaps, and building a more resilient health system for South Sudan.