Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has launched a 40-bed neonatal inpatient ward at Aweil State Hospital in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
MSF made the announcement in a press release on Thursday.
“We are pleased to share with you a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve healthcare for vulnerable populations in South Sudan,” reads the press release.
It said the new facility replaces the overcrowded ward, providing essential space and advanced equipment to better care for sick, premature, and low-birth-weight babies.
“The ward’s strategic location near the maternity unit will facilitate easier access for mothers to breastfeed and participate in Kangaroo Mother Care, both critical for neonatal health,” it adds.
The upgraded ward is the only facility of its kind in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, offering a safer, more comfortable environment for the most vulnerable infants, and enabling improved monitoring and infection prevention.
Since 2008, MSF has been supporting Aweil State Hospital’s pediatric and maternity services, with a focus on increasing access to quality care for families. In 2024 alone, MSF assisted in the delivery of over 7,600 babies.