The Chinese government on Thursday donated medicines and equipment to support health services in South Sudan’s main referral hospital.
Harriet Pasquale, director general of medical services in the ministry of health said that the donation of medical supplies and equipment is timely as they will help Juba teaching hospital to replenish it’s store with drugs and vital medical equipment.
“The medical supplies and equipment to Juba teaching hospital is really important, we all know that Juba teaching hospital covers a very big catchment population, and one of the challenges that we face is having continuous medical supplies and equipment to maintain standard care in the hospital,” Pasquale said during the handover ceremony held in Juba.
The medicines and instruments are jointly donated by the China National Health Commission and Health Commission of Anhui Province of China, covering more than 300 types of basic medicines commonly used in cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and endocrinology departments, as well as daily-using operating room consumables and instruments in otorhinolaryngology, gynecology and obstetrics, and general surgery departments.
The quantity of cartons of donated items is up to 180 boxes, with a total value of more than 182,000 U.S dollars.
Pasquale thanked the Chinese government and it’s medical teams for supporting South Sudan to diagnose and treat malaria using laboratory equipment and medicines donated over the years to Juba teaching hospital.
“Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in South Sudan and the fact that you put more attention in addressing that means that you have really contributed in addressing major health issues in the country,” she said.
Pasquale appealed to the Chinese government to give special consideration of labeling these drugs in English in order to ease the work of South Sudanese medics in prescribing medicine to patients, adding that this will give patients the confidence of taking the drugs.
“We the South Sudanese are really grateful for all the support we have been receiving from China; support not only of providing medical services but also ensuring that trainings are always available to our people,” she said.
“The fact that you are able to provide us with drugs and equipment and also with a big medical team to support the health services at Juba teaching hospital means a lot to us, so it means that you are not only bringing a team but you want to make sure that services are really provided to our people,” Pasquale added.
Anthony Lupai Simon, director general of Juba teaching hospital said that the Chinese medical teams do not only provide medical supplies but also treat patients.
“Just some few weeks ago, there is also some equipment that we received from the Chinese team and we commend the government of China who are good partners to the people of South Sudan from time- to- time,” Lupai said.
He said that the services of the Chinese medical teams are not limited to only Juba teaching hospital as they have been extending these services to outreach stations in Lakes state, Northern Bahr El Ghazal state and Jonglei state.
Ma Qiang, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan said that the China medical teams have assisted in recent years in establishing several new labs and centers such as China-South Sudan medical telediagnosis center, medical microbiology laboratory, and the pathology laboratory in Juba teaching hospital, carried out on-site training programs for local medical personnel, and invited 42 South Sudanese counterparts to China for further study.
“As we know, people’s health is an important symbol of national strength and prosperity. The South Sudanese government has always regarded improving health services as a key national development goal, and China has also made health cause development a priority in our bilateral cooperation,” Ma said.
Ma said that the Chinese government also provides anti-malaria materials such as long-acting medicated mosquito nets and anti-mosquito sprays to South Sudan.
Chen Si, team leader of the 11th batch of the Chinese medical team in South Sudan, said that the lifesaving medications, long-lasting medicated mosquito nets, valuable laboratory instrument and the advanced surgical tools donated have been carefully selected to address specific medical needs of Juba teaching hospital..
“These items will undoubtedly help to save lives and improve the overall well-being of the people in South Sudan. The donation “China-Africa Counterpart Hospital Cooperation Mechanism” projects including telemedicine network will contribute to medical education and training for the staff and improve the level of hospital information and laboratory construction of Juba teaching hospital,” Chen said.
The China-Aided Project of Phase II of Expansion and Modernization of Juba Teaching Hospital will start in the first half of this year.
Since China dispatched it’s first batch of medical team to South Sudan in 2012, the China medical teams have donated medical equipment and medicines in urgent need to Juba teaching hospital in consecutive years.
