South Sudan News

Juba, 5 October 2018 –Dr Olu, Olushayo Oluseun, the newly appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for South Sudan who presented his letter of credentials yesterday, 4 October 2018 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Presenting his credentials, Dr Olu says, “with Ebola virus disease on our doorstep, I would like to join the Minister of Health in leading a multisectoral approach to ensure that the country is well prepared”.

Juba, 2 October 2018 – To determine the extent of Rota virus infections among children and reduce child morbidity and mortality due to rotavirus infection, the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) is establishing sentinel surveillance for rotavirus infection in Juba.

Juba 14 September 2018 – WHO in partnership with the Ministry of Health are strengthening capacity to improve HIV programme interventions to achieve the national 90-90-90 targets in South Sudan.

Over the last decades, South Sudan has continued to face humanitarian crises of varying nature and intensity weakening the health systems and thus hindering progressive coverage of health services including HIV. 

Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, threatens millions of people in many countries across sub-Saharan Africa. 

South Sudan is one of the countries most affected by sleeping sickness. In 2018, a total of 5 469 people were screened (5 330 actively and 139 passively) for sleeping sickness of which 13 patients were treated. 

In an effort towards the elimination of the human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), WHO trained health experts on the use of different diagnostic tools and case management. 

Malaria, a disease endemic in South Sudan with the entire population at risk, continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, accounting for 59% of cases and over 28% of deaths reported in health facilities in 2018. Children under five years and pregnant mothers are the most vulnerable.

Juba, 6 September 2018 – In the aftermath of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that started in North Kivu province, on 1 August 2018 and the threat of cross-border spread, South Sudan has heightened its preparedness and response activities.

Juba 27 August 2018 – The Ministry of Health of South Sudan in collaboration with the Health Sector Partners (HSP) and with technical leadership and support from the World Health Organization has validated its 2007 Essential Medicines List.  

This is part of the efforts to improve access to, availability and proper use of essential medicines within the health care system in public and private facilities. 

Juba 9 August, 2018 – The Ministry of Health of the Republic of South Sudan with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners convened a three-day meeting to develop a five-year national action plan for health security (2018-2022). 

Juba 26 July, 2018 – In an effort to implement the recommendations of the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) for International Health Regulations (2005) conducted in 2017, the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization and other partners developed a roadmap to improve its capacity to prevent, detect, confirm, and rapidly respond to public health risks and emergencies. 

Juba 13 July, 2018 – The Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organization is building capacity to strengthen surveillance mechanism for adverse events following immunization (AEFI).