By William Madouk
National Minister of Health, Yolanda Awel Deng has cited salary woes and poor living conditions as impediments to doctors’ deployment.
Addressing the gathering during the launching of the Malaria Vaccine, Yolanda cited that even though medics are the worst-hit lot after accruing salary arrears – they still trek to health facilities.
“The individuals that are offering health services in the country are people who are most patriotic that I never seen in my life,” Yolanda praised.
“They are always there in the healthcare facility even if they have not received their benefits, some of them will walk. I have staff who come from Gumbo, people who come from the other side of the river to attend [to work] at Juba Teaching Hospital,” she added.
She revealed that doctors start trekking from 5:30 am to attend to patients at health facilities.
“They have not received anything their welfare is not been taken care of, but they are showing up every day.”
Yolanda noted that doctors do not even have accommodations to leave aside their families’ needs.
“We are employing the doctors but I got a condition of those in the subnational. They don’t have accommodation, their salaries do not come on time,” she stressed.
“Maybe about two or three months ago, I have sent a very big list out – they said okay hon minister we will go but I got my children in Juba who have been kicked out [of school],”
According to Yolanda, the medics quizzed her on their fate in states that they are going to be deployed since they can afford to make the end meet here in the capital Juba.
“So, until we improve the living conditions of the healthcare workers – we still have a challenge,
Yolanda, states “I still have a challenge of sending specialists to all counties of South Sudan. I have a challenge of sending doctors to some areas that are cut off because some areas you have to fly in and out.”
She called for the increment of the health sector budget to 15% as per the Abuja Declaration.
“We appeal for the increment of the health budget in accordance to Abuja’s declaration of 15 per cent – it is actually the target and on point.”