The Government of Canada is supporting efforts to expand access to life-saving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information in South Sudan through a community-driven radio initiative that empowers local people to shape health programming addressing the needs of women, girls and vulnerable communities.
The three-day workshop, held in Bor Town, Jonglei State, brought together 35 participants (18 men and 17 women), including radio listeners, health professionals, representatives of civil society organizations, members of the South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association, and radio programme producers, and concluded on Wednesday.
The training was organized by the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) under the TRUST: Women’s Voices, Midwifery Leadership for Resilient Health Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and led by the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM).
Unlike conventional media trainings that focus on journalists, the workshop placed community members at the centre of programme development, enabling radio listeners to identify priority health concerns, recommend culturally appropriate messaging, and contribute ideas for radio programmes that will be produced and broadcast on Radio Jonglei and Voice of Reconciliation.
The initiative seeks to increase access to accurate, evidence-based information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights while addressing misinformation, harmful social norms and barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing essential health services.
Opening the workshop, Dr. Simon Chathiech Wuol praised the Government of Canada for its continued investment in strengthening healthcare systems in South Sudan, saying community participation is essential to improving health outcomes.
He said many families, particularly in rural communities, continue to face limited access to reliable health information, making radio one of the most effective platforms for public education.
“The ideas generated during this workshop will help produce inclusive radio programmes that respond directly to the information needs of our communities,” Dr. Chathiech said.
He stressed that strengthening resilient and gender-responsive health systems requires empowering women and girls with knowledge about their health, while ensuring communities understand the importance of maternal healthcare, family planning, adolescent health, nutrition and the prevention of gender-based violence.
Dr. Chathiech also called upon humanitarian and development partners to establish a specialised centre for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Jonglei State.
He noted that years of armed conflict, displacement, flooding, cattle-related violence and child abductions have significantly disrupted healthcare services across Jonglei, leaving many women and girls without adequate access to reproductive healthcare and psychosocial support.
“This workshop is unique because it is the first of its kind in Jonglei State where radio listeners are directly involved in designing health programmes. It promotes inclusive decision-making and ensures that communities have ownership of the information shared through the media,” he said.
South Sudan continues to face some of the world’s most pressing maternal and reproductive health challenges. Many women, particularly in remote areas, struggle to access skilled birth attendants, emergency obstetric care, antenatal services and reproductive health information. Long distances to health facilities, shortages of trained health workers, insecurity and harmful cultural practices remain significant barriers to quality healthcare.
According to health experts, improving access to reliable SRHR information is critical in reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths, encouraging skilled birth attendance, promoting antenatal and postnatal care, preventing sexually transmitted infections, supporting adolescent reproductive health, and reducing stigma surrounding sexual and reproductive health services.
Speaking during the opening session, AMDISS Advocacy and Communication Manager Juma Peter Maya said the TRUST Project recognises that sustainable improvements in healthcare depend not only on stronger health systems but also on informed communities capable of making sound health decisions.
“This five-year TRUST Project is not only about improving healthcare services. It is about ensuring that women and girls have the information, confidence and support they need to make informed decisions about their health while strengthening the leadership of midwives who serve communities every day,” Maya said.
He emphasised that the media has an indispensable role in improving public health by translating complex medical information into understandable messages that communities can trust.
“Radio remains the most accessible source of information for millions of South Sudanese, particularly in rural areas where literacy levels are low and access to digital information is limited. When radio programmes are accurate, inclusive and culturally sensitive, they can save lives by encouraging people to seek timely healthcare, challenging harmful myths, promoting gender equality and strengthening public confidence in health services,” he said.
Maya encouraged participants to actively contribute practical ideas that reflect the realities faced by women, men, adolescents and persons with disabilities in their communities.
“The programmes developed through this workshop should reflect the voices of the people. Communities understand their own challenges better than anyone else, and their experiences will help produce meaningful radio content that educates, inspires and encourages positive health behaviour.”
The workshop also highlighted the important contribution of midwives to South Sudan’s health system. Participants discussed how midwives often provide the first point of contact for pregnant women, newborns and families, particularly in underserved communities, and how strengthening their leadership contributes to more resilient healthcare systems.
Throughout the three-day training, participants explored topics including community-centred radio programming, audience engagement, message development, responsible health communication, combating misinformation, gender-sensitive reporting, and designing programmes that respect local cultures while promoting evidence-based health information.
The workshop forms part of the broader TRUST: Women’s Voices, Midwifery Leadership for Resilient Health Project, a five-year initiative running from 2025 to 2030. The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the Canadian Association of Midwives in partnership with national organisations in South Sudan and Malawi.
The project aims to strengthen resilient, gender-responsive health systems by increasing women’s and girls’ agency to exercise their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, supporting the leadership of midwives, and promoting community participation in health decision-making.
AMDISS announced that a similar community radio content design workshop will be conducted in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, as the project expands efforts to improve access to reliable health information across South Sudan.
By bringing together community members, health professionals and media practitioners, the initiative demonstrates how locally produced radio programmes can bridge health information gaps, amplify women’s voices and support healthier, more informed communities across the country.
and then