The pharmaceutical department of the main state hospital in Northern Bahr al Ghazal revealed that it has run short of medicines, as have hospitals across the state.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, Dr. Juac Dut Wol, Director of Pharmaceutical  Services in Aweil State Hospital said that two main hospitals face shortages, Aweil main hospital and Akuem Hospital in Aweil East.

“We received the last consignments in January 2013 and until now we have run short of medicine,” Dr. Juac stressed.

He mentioned that they did since receive some anti-malarial drugs in February but they were an ‘emergency’ supply that were distributed also to the counties and quickly ran out.

Dr. Juac said that malaria is the most common disease affecting children and pregnant mothers in the state.

He noted that members of the public who come as patients to the hospital often resent being told to buy drugs from the private drugs shops rather than being provided the drugs.

“They suspect us for having sold the medicines of the hospital,” he said.

Acting Director General Dominic Athian added that the other major challenging for the hospital in the state is the lack of qualified medical personnel.

“We only have four doctors across the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal and 24 nurses remained working while the rest left to look for more payment because the government does not pay well compare to NGOs,” he said.

Dominic said, “We have received funds from the national government and this will attract the doctors to come back to the hospital and resume work.”