Rumbek Health Science Institute on Friday graduated 85 students, including 46 men and 39 women, in four programs: 24 midwives, 23 nurses, 29 clinical officers, and eight laboratory technicians.
Dr. Achier Mou, director general for training and professional development at the national Ministry of Health, urged graduates to use digital resources to stay updated. “We need to train and deploy more nurses, midwives, and laboratory technicians,” he said. He also emphasized the need for county, state, and national health authorities to recruit, train, and retain the new graduates.
“For the graduates, you need to approach county health departments, the state Ministry of Health, the national Ministry of Health, and all health facilities to secure employment,” he said. “If you are employed, serve your people professionally and respect government officials at all levels.”
Deng Makur Mabeny, principal of the institute, said the school trains students across four pillars: nursing and midwifery, clinical medicine, public health, and medical laboratory sciences. Since its founding, the institute has graduated 485 health workers, many of whom are now employed across Lakes State and neighboring regions.
“Previously, patients were often transported on blankets or local structures,” Mabeny said. “Now, with support from UNFPA and CUAAM International in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health, we are producing trained human resources to fill primary healthcare centers and county hospitals.”
Mabeny encouraged graduates to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives, such as opening pharmacies or other small businesses, to create additional employment opportunities. “Not everyone will work for the government,” he said. “Use the knowledge and skills you have acquired to generate opportunities for yourself and others.”
Stephen Mathiang Deng Monydit, Lakes State minister of cabinet affairs, urged graduates to apply their skills to save lives. “Graduation certificates are only meaningful if you apply your knowledge,” he said. “A nurse must care for pregnant women properly; laboratory workers must handle samples accurately to prevent harmful errors.”
Dr. Rita, state coordinator for CUAAM, praised the government of South Sudan for supporting the institute and strengthening the healthcare workforce. She noted that graduates included students from neighboring countries, such as Uganda. “Dedication, mentorship, collaboration, and continued support from UNFPA through CUAAM have been critical to this achievement,” she said.
Dickson Pion Omana, a graduate in clinical medicine and public health, said completing the program was a milestone despite the challenges posed by South Sudan’s ongoing crisis. “With God, we managed to overcome difficulties and achieve our goals,” he said, thanking the support of parents, guardians, and partners such as CUAAM, which provided crucial assistance to nursing and midwifery students.