The Director General for Midwives and Nurses at South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Janet Michael, on Tuesday called upon nurses and midwives to espouse their values and serve with commitment.
She made this appeal during the combined celebrations of International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day held at Juba Teaching Hospital in Juba on Tuesday.
The event was held under the theme “Our Nurses, Our Midwives, Our Future.”
Dr. Michael urged nurses and midwives to work with dedication despite the challenges the healthcare sector is grappling with.
“I want to encourage you to work diligently. You know the people who are suffering are your sisters, your mothers, your daughters, your aunties,” she said. “Those who are in their families are your sisters, your daughters, and they need the services. If you give up, who is going to serve them? What is going to happen? Let us not surrender. We are going to serve our people and our country.”
As you are rising in the region, you need to be visible in East Africa, in Africa, and in the world, because we are now members of the East African community,” she added.
Dr. Michael praised the health workers for their commitment to saving lives and improving maternal and child healthcare services across the country.
For his part, Repent Khamis George, President of South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association (SSNAMA), said the function was organized to recognize and appreciate the vital role nurses and midwives play in protecting the health, dignity, and future of the people of South Sudan.
“As we all know, our country continues to face many challenges. We continue to struggle with higher maternal and newborn deaths, shortage of health care workers, health services, and unsourced facilities,” he said. “In addition to this are the effects of conflict, displacement, and climate-related emergencies.”
“However, even in the midst of all these challenges, there is one thing that remains constant, the dedication and the resilience of our nurses and midwives in the face of this,” Khamis added.
Meanwhile, Tong Manguat, Acting Director General of Juba Teaching Hospital, commended the dedication and hard work of nurses and midwives, and urged them to continue serving with the same spirit and commitment.
“You are committing to the patients and to your nation. So, on my behalf and the administration, we will improve incentives with time, and we shall see improvement,” he said.
Renata Tallarico, Deputy Representative and Head of Programme at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in South Sudan, said nurses and midwives play a vital role in reducing maternal and newborn mortality by nearly 80 percent.
“In communities affected by fragility and humanitarian challenges, nurses and midwives are often the first responders, the trusted caregivers, and sometimes the only link to essential health services,” she said. “When integrated into functional health systems, your expertise helps to reduce maternal and newborn mortality by nearly 80 percent.”
She urged the government to continue investing in quality nursing and midwifery education, specialized training, and professional regulation to build a strong, competent, and resilient health workforce for the future.
International Nurses Day 2026 is globally celebrated on 12 May to honor the contribution of nurses worldwide and mark the birthday of Florence Nightingale, a pioneer in nursing. Conversely, the International Day of the Midwife is commemorated globally on 5 May and is dedicated to recognizing the essential role midwives play in maternal and newborn health.
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