{"id":44625,"date":"2026-05-13T15:49:45","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/?p=44625"},"modified":"2026-05-13T15:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T13:49:45","slug":"government-pledges-better-working-environment-for-health-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/13\/government-pledges-better-working-environment-for-health-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Government pledges better working environment for health workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Yiep Joseph<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The government has pledged to prioritise improving the working environment for health workers across the country amid ongoing challenges facing nurses and midwives.<\/p>\n

Speaking during the combined celebration of the International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day in Juba on Tuesday, the director general for nursing at the National Ministry of Health, Rev. Janet Michel, said improving working conditions for health workers remains a key priority for the government.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to improve the working environment for health workers in South Sudan,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n

The celebration brought together nurses, midwives, students from nursing and midwifery schools, health officials, and development partners to recognise the contribution of nurses and midwives to the country\u2019s health sector.<\/p>\n

Janet acknowledged that despite delays in salary payments, nurses and midwives have continued to serve communities across South Sudan with dedication and commitment.<\/p>\n

She said the government is working to improve the salary structure for health workers to ensure better welfare and motivation within the health sector.<\/p>\n

Janet also appreciated the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and AMREF toward the celebration and their continued contribution to the development of health workers in the country.<\/p>\n

She further encouraged nurses and midwives to maintain professionalism in their appearance and conduct, saying proper identification could help citizens recognise and assist them, especially during emergencies.<\/p>\n

Dr. Simon Gore Augustino, the acting director general at the Central Equatoria State Ministry of Health, described the shortage of health workers as a major global challenge, particularly in South Sudan and Africa.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuman resources for health is a global concern, especially in South Sudan and Africa at large,\u201d Gore said.<\/p>\n

He noted that South Sudan needs more nurses and midwives to improve maternal healthcare and strengthen medical services across the country.<\/p>\n

Gore described nurses and midwives as the backbone of healthcare service delivery, praising their commitment to caring for patients despite difficult working conditions.<\/p>\n

He also commended the National Ministry of Health for establishing a Directorate of Nursing, saying it gives nurses a greater role in professional decision-making within the ministry.<\/p>\n

Renata Jallarico, Deputy Representative of UNFPA, described nurses and midwives as protectors of life, dignity, and hope.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are the guardians of the beginning of life. You ensure that no woman dies while giving birth and are present during the most critical moments in human existence,\u201d Renata said.<\/p>\n

She added that nurses and midwives are often the first responders in communities affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, and mental health challenges.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the acting director of Juba Teaching Hospital, Dr. Tong Manyuat Laath, appreciated nurses and midwives for their hard work in the hospital, particularly in mentoring intern students and caring for patients.<\/p>\n

He acknowledged the difficult conditions faced by health workers, revealing that some nurses and midwives at Juba Teaching Hospital receive incentives of about 100,000 South Sudanese Pounds, which he said does not match the workload they handle.<\/p>\n

On behalf of the hospital administration, Manyuat promised that incentives for nurses and midwives would be increased within six months to boost morale and support service delivery.<\/p>\n

The Chairperson of the South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association (SSNAMA), Repent Khamis George, also highlighted challenges facing health workers, including shortages of medical supplies and equipment.<\/p>\n

Khamis said the lack of adequate kits and medical materials for nurses and midwives continues to affect patient care and contributes to suffering in hospitals across the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Yiep Joseph The government has pledged to prioritise improving the working environment for health workers across the country amid ongoing challenges facing nurses and midwives. Speaking during the combined celebration of the International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day in Juba on Tuesday, the director general for[Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":44626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80,79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/The-Ministry-of-Health-DG.-Janet-Michael-middle-government-officials-partners-SSNAMA-and-Nurses-and-Midwives-during-the-International-Nurses-Day-celebrated-in-Juba-courtesy-photo.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44625"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44627,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44625\/revisions\/44627"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}