The Minister of Health, Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial, accompanied by senior officials from the National Legislative Assembly, Council of States, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in South Sudan, Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, concluded a two-day high-level visit to Rumbek Centre in Lakes State and Gogrial West County in Warrap State from 11–13 March 2026. The delegation assessed health system gaps and challenges while reaffirming commitments from government and partners to strengthen service delivery at all levels. During the visit, they met with governors and local leaders to discuss critical health priorities, strategies to address them, and the importance of coordinated action.
Hon. Sarah Rial expressed gratitude to state authorities, partners, and health workers for their dedication to community health, emphasizing her commitment to supporting frontline teams. She acknowledged the resilience of local health authorities and workers and encouraged them to continue their efforts to deliver quality healthcare.
Dr. Humphrey Karamagi highlighted systemic challenges such as limited resources and difficult access in remote areas but also praised local innovation and resilience. He emphasized the importance of community involvement in decision-making and reiterated WHO’s commitment to supporting South Sudan’s health sector in achieving better population health outcomes.
As part of the Special Initiative on Maternal and Newborn Health, launched in December 2025, Minister Rial, with WHO support, donated essential medicines and delivery equipment to four health facilities in Lakes and Warrap States. The supplies included oxytocin, misoprostol, magnesium sulfate, antibiotics, and neonatal resuscitation kits, aimed at improving maternal and newborn care in hard-to-reach areas.
Medical support extended to minor surgical care for 1,000 patients, treatments for malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, and other common illnesses, bleeding prevention for 250 mothers, HIV testing for 200 antenatal mothers, miscarriage management supplies, family planning, and treatment for chronic conditions affecting up to 10,000 people over three months. Additional resources included infection prevention supplies, immunization guidelines, symptom flow charts, and a forthcoming Starlink internet connection to enhance supervision and oversight.
During the visit, Hon. Rial launched the nationwide Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) distribution campaign in Rumbek. This initiative aims to distribute 9.5 million mosquito nets across South Sudan, with Lakes State receiving 888,600 nets to cover all households. The campaign is funded by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, supplied by UNICEF, and implemented locally by the Women Agency for Resilience and Transformation in collaboration with the Lakes State Ministry of Health.
The delegation also visited Salva Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital in Rumbek, Kuajok Hospital, and Akon PHCC in Gogrial West to observe facility needs directly. This field mission builds on an October 2025 visit, advancing improvements in state-level health systems, service delivery, and preparedness for public health challenges.
