By Simon Deng
The national ministry of health said on Thursday that it is working to improve on delivery of healthcare services amid dire health situation across the country.
Yolanda Awel Deng, the national minister of health told journalists during the opening of symposium on commitment to end maternal mortality and harmful practices at Imperial Hotel in Juba.
“South Sudan is still facing numerous challenges and barriers, it has got one of the world’s worst indicators on health for example, the maternal mortality rate is estimated to be 1150 per 100,000 live birth,” said Deng.
She revealed that together with development partners they are channeling efforts towards improving access to quality health services including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.
Deng said that they have already developed policy and strategic document on sexual and reproductive health.
“The ministry is working so hard to improve the delivery of healthcare services to South Sudanese as stipulated in our vision, a health and productive population in South Sudan living a dignified life is a basic right,” she said.
Ademola Olajide, the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) Country representative, advised the ministry of health to change strategy to ease health service delivery.
“All of us have to work with a range of partners under the leadership of the ministry of health to ensure that there is going to be an investment, and not just expedition so that at the end of the day the republic of South Sudan can reap demographic dividends for the young people,” said Olajide.
