Over 90% of diseases in S. Sudan preventable, official
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September 26, 2011 (JUBA) — More than 90 per cent of diseases that
affect millions of the population in Africa’s newest nation can easily
be prevented, provided the right messages are disseminated among
community members, a senior health officials has disclosed.
JPEG - 60.6 kb
Dr. Margaret Itto, the director general for training and professional
development in the health ministry makes remarks during the
UNICEF-supported workshop, September 23, 2011 (Photo: Julius Uma/ST)
Margaret Itto, the director general for training and professional
development in the South Sudan’s health ministry sounded these remarks
while closing a five-day national communication workshop organized the
ministry, with support from United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
“Prevention is better than cure and as trained communicators, you need
to sensitize the masses using messages that can change the behaviours
of people in your various communities,” she told attendees drawn from
all the 10 South Sudan states.
Itto, who also doubles as the acting director general for community
and public health within the same ministry said albeit the South still
lacks enough midwives and nurses needed to support the much needed
community health workers, efforts are underway to improve the
situation.
She noted, “If you want to deliver services that have health impact in
society, there is need for the proper training of community health
workers who will help disseminate health related information at
household levels.”
The senior health official specifically cited Ethiopia, a country
where focus on preventable diseases in society, is reportedly
prioritized ahead of service delivery nationwide.
The need to implement community-led total sanitation in the South
Sudan context, create clear terms of references to guide stakeholders,
building capacities of development partner to co-ordinate with their
state-level counterparts were some of the key issues discussed during
the workshop held in Juba, the South Sudan capital.
To-date, however, the health sector in South Sudan, a region that
suffered from over two decades of civil war with the north, remains
extremely weak. The young new nation still continues to face
significant health challenges.
For instance, according to the 2006 South Sudan Household Health
Survey (SSHHS), the country has one of the highest maternal mortality
ratios in the world at 2,054 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Under-five mortality was at 135 deaths per 1,000 live births,
according to the same survey.
“Lack of sufficient trained staff, supplies, drugs, and equipment
create challenges in improving the health status of the people of
South Sudan,” party reads a section of the SSHHS report.
(ST)
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