Civil society activists have called on South Sudan’s government to release medical supplies for Kapoeta Civil Hospital that have been held at Juba International Airport for nearly a month.
Support Peace Initiative Organization (SPIDO) said the delay was disrupting health services in Kapoeta and urged authorities to act swiftly.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Wodcan Savior Lazarous, SPIDO’s executive director, questioned why the consignment remained at the airport despite urgent public health needs.
“Authorities are aware this is a government hospital under the national health system,” he said. “The continued delay is unacceptable while people are in need of essential services.”
Health officials said the supplies were delayed last month after airport authorities requested documentation, including the hospital’s licence.
Dr. Kherbhino Awad, medical director at Kapoeta Civil Hospital, said the facility had run out of medicines and was struggling to operate.
“The drugs have not arrived and are still in Juba,” he said. “We have completed the required procedures, but there are no medicines available at the hospital.”
He said the hospital had been forced to introduce small fees for laboratory tests and consultations to sustain operations, after previously offering free services.
“We are facing serious challenges due to the lack of supplies,” he added, calling on authorities to intervene and ensure the medicines are delivered.
Officials at Juba International Airport and the national health ministry were not immediately available for comment.
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