The United Kingdom Ambassador to South Sudan, David Ashley, on Wednesday announced a $26 million aid package to support the South Sudan health sector.
The envoy made the proclamation shortly after visiting Kator PHCC and Al-Sabah Children’s Hospital in Juba, and stated that the fund will provide basic health and nutrition services to health facilities across the country.
“We are very grateful to the hospital for allowing us to use their facilities to speak to you today,” he stated. “The aim is to announce a $26 million contribution to the World Bank-led Multi-Donor Trust Fund, which supports the Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP).”
“Our support through the HSTP will provide basic health and nutrition services nationwide at health facilities, build the capacity of state ministries of health and county health departments, strengthen reporting and data, and provide the Boma Health Initiative to deliver basic health services at the community level, and that includes refugees and host communities,” Ambassador Asley added.
He disclosed that the UK Embassy is collaborating with partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, WHO, and other donors, to support South Sudan’s health sector.
The envoy added that the UK is also pledging up to $1.1 billion to the Global Fund over three years, stating that South Sudan has received $350 million from the Global Fund since 2017 to address malaria.
For his part, Seb Fouquet OBE, UK Humanitarian and Development Director, stated that the funding will support the Women’s Sexual Health Programme, which assists reproductive health services.
“This is part of the package that is being provided across the country through the HSTP. This funding is going to help strengthen healthcare and ensure that South Sudan is prepared to respond to health emergencies,” he said. “We know that at the moment there are a great number of risks in this country, particularly facing a sizable cholera outbreak, for example, and this is an area which we are trying to help facilities respond to.”
According to Fouquet, the fund will help build the capacity of health experts to create a better system for responding to these health crises.
He said the contribution to the health sector comes at a time of unprecedented challenge for global overseas development assistance.