Northern Bahr el Ghazal state health minister, Riiny Riiny Lual inspecting the donated items in Aweil on 31 January 2023. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

N. Bahr el Ghazal receives medical equipment, launches Covid-19 campaigns

Health authorities in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal on Monday received medical facilities including 25 refrigerators, 25 solar panels, and other equipment meant to improve healthcare across the State.

Health authorities in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal on Monday received medical facilities including 25 refrigerators, 25 solar panels, and other equipment meant to improve healthcare across the State. 

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, the state health minister, Riiny Riiny Lual, said the facilities will be distributed to health facilities across the state’s five counties.

“We have received 25 fridges and also 25 solar panels with other equipment for the five counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal,” Minister Riiny said.    

“This has been done through the national ministry of health, UNICEF, Gavi, and other donors. These items will be distributed to 25 health facilities in the five counties of Northern Bahr el Ghazal. This support will have an impact on the health of children and mothers,” he added.

The Executive Director of the Aweil Community-Based Organizations Forum (ACBOF), Santino Deng Ngong, urged the health authorities to use the equipment as intended. 

He said the activists will keep a keen eye on the use and maintenance of the equipment meant to serve the citizens, adding that past donations were diverted for personal use. 

The donation came from the World Bank, Gavi, UNICEF, and others through the national ministry of health.

Still, on health matters, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state launched a Covid-19 vaccination drive in Aweil East and Aweil Center counties on Monday.

The seven-day campaign targets more than 30,000 people.

“The campaign targets 31,000 elderly people, people with underlining health problems, and health workers on the frontlines. We are targeting 24,000 people in Aweil East County and 7,000 in Aweil Center County,” the Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the ministry Santino Ngong Chan told Radio Tamazuj.