Kiir told to address Health Ministry internal crises

The South Sudan Doctors Union (SSDU) has called on President Salva Kiir to solve the Ministry of Health’s internal conflict to avert the deterioration of the already fragile health system in the country. 

The SSDU, a body established to advocate for the social wellbeing of healthcare workers in the country, said it was concerned about unhealthy coordination among the health authorities which was likely to harm healthcare service delivery.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the body said the poor working relations between the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Vice President for Service Cluster should be addressed to restore hope among the depressed healthcare workers.

“The SSDU further calls on H E Salva Kiir Mayardit and the entire Presidency to quickly intervene, find a lasting solution to the differences, and put the MoH back on the right path,” partly read the statement.

 “The SSDU hopes the Presidency will encourage the MoH leadership to maintain high integrity and professionalism and carry out their mandate for the benefit of the people of South Sudan.”

The body said leaders were supposed to address their internal differences with wisdom to prevent the creation of hopelessness among workers who are already frustrated by the poor working environment at the country’s main referral hospital.  

“The disagreement has further created administrative instability at Juba Teaching Hospital and doubts among doctors especially the House Officers who were assured that their outstanding issues will be addressed,” it added.

Last week the national Minister of Health Elizabeth Achuei disagreed with the Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi on proposed managerial changes at the Juba Teach Hospital (JTH) in an astonishing standoff.

The emergence of disagreement 

The stalemate arose after Abdelbagi ordered the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, Victoria Anib, to commission the reviewing and restructuring of the management of the country’s main referral hospital. 

In a letter dated 10/10/2021 and addressed to the Undersecretary Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, the Vice President also directed that the “conduct of necessary changes in the management of the Juba Teaching Hospital that may assist in finding an amicable solution to the ongoing crisis at that institution”.

In the letter, City Review obtained a copy of, Abdelbagi further directed Victoria to ensure the cleansing of “mess” created by some doctors.

“Address the persistent issue of doctors’ mess and ensure that the right doctors working at the Juba Teaching Hospital are accommodated,” partly read Abdelbagi’s order to Anib. It added: “Look after the new occupants of the doctors’ mess in terms of their welfare.”

Undersecretary acts  

A document from the Undersecretary’s office reveals that Anib complied with the vice president’s order by reassigning director generals and directors at the Ministry of Health.

Those reassigned were Dr. Alier Nyok, Director General for Medical Services, Dr. Thuou Lui, Director-General for Training and Professional Development, and Dr. Michael Samuel Mading, Director-General for Policy and Planning.

Others were Ms. Janet Michael, Director-General for Reproductive Health, Dr. Frederick Khamis Tawad, Director-General for Juba Teaching Hospital, Dr. Garang Dakjur, Deputy Director-General for Juba Teaching, and Dr. Brian Madison, Director for Training and Professional Development.

Minister of Health reacts 

However, on Friday, the Minister of Health, Achuei revoked the reassignments of the staff through a Ministerial Order No 22/2021.

“In exercise of powers conferred upon me under 114(2)(c) and Article 31 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 (as amended), read together with the Republican Decree 222/2021, I, Hon. Elizabeth Achuei Yol, the Minister for Health, do hereby issue this Ministerial Order,” read the decree in part.

“Cancellation of all appointments, reassignments, and transfer of Directors and Directors General at the Ministry of Health and the Juba Teaching Hospital as per orders and letter dated 10th 2021,” it added.

Achuei said, “This includes, by extension, all subsequent appointments, decisions, and directives made by the Undersecretary without prior consultation with the Minister”.