By James Innocent
Yei River County has received an additional Ebola preparedness team from Juba as health authorities strengthen surveillance and response measures.
County Health Director Simon Musoga said the national-level team had arrived to support Ebola preparedness activities in Yei.
He commended County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo for working with the county’s Ebola surveillance task force and supporting efforts to improve preparedness.
Welcoming the team, Commissioner Malimbo said Yei remained peaceful and urged the national team to work closely with local health authorities to strengthen disease surveillance and preparedness.
He said Yei Civil Hospital serves as a referral facility for the Greater Yei region, including people coming from neighbouring areas, and therefore requires adequate capacity to respond to health emergencies.
Malimbo called for additional support for the hospital laboratory, including qualified personnel and equipment, to strengthen its diagnostic capacity.
He also urged the county health department to support the training of more students in radiography and X-ray services, particularly in Juba, to strengthen the hospital’s technical capacity and address future staffing needs.
The commissioner further called for strict adherence to occupational health and safety standards for health workers operating X-ray equipment.
He said the county Ebola task force holds weekly meetings to review preparedness activities, surveillance information, and emerging health concerns.
Martin Bidal, a surveillance officer, stressed the importance of cooperation among government authorities, health workers, and humanitarian partners in strengthening disease preparedness and response.
The national team is expected to conduct surveillance training for members of the Ebola preparedness task forces in Yei. Commissioner Malimbo called on IOM and other partners to support the training in coordination with county health authorities.
Separately, Commissioner Malimbo announced a countywide cleaning campaign for Saturday, 5 September 2026, urging residents, businesses, and institutions to participate.
He said the exercise is intended to improve sanitation and keep Yei clean.
The commissioner also warned that vehicles found loitering or obstructing the exercise could be dealt with by security authorities. He cited a possible penalty of three months’ imprisonment and a fine of 1 million South Sudanese pounds for violations.
Residents were urged to cooperate with authorities and take part in the campaign.