Health minister visits Juba Teaching Hospital amid shocking conditions of the facility
The JTH, serving as the ultimate government hospital for the nation and doubles as a training facility for doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health professionals, has attracted pubic concerns in recent times
By Aguok Chok
The Minister of Health, Sarah Cleto Rial, on Tuesday visited Juba Teaching Hospital following public criticisms over the shocking conditions of the country’s main hospital.
She held a meeting with the management team of the hospital, headed by the Director General, Dr. Anthony Lupai Simon.
The primary objective of this meeting was to evaluate the current health situation within the facility following public outcry about the conditions.
During the discussion, Minister Cleto and Dr. Simon reviewed several pressing issues affecting hospital operations, including patient care standards, resource allocation, and staffing challenges.
They also addressed the hospital’s capacity to manage increasing patient admissions and the ongoing impact of regional health crises.
The Minister emphasised the need for enhanced collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the hospital administration to develop effective strategies for improving healthcare services. Furthermore, they discussed potential training programs for medical staff to ensure they are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge in medical practice.
Cleto expressed her commitment to ensuring that Juba Teaching Hospital has the necessary resources to provide high-quality care to the community.
The meeting concluded with a plan to schedule follow-up sessions to monitor progress and adjust strategies based on evolving health needs in the country.
The Ministry’s decision to reassess Juba Teaching Hospital comes against a backdrop of rising concern over conditions at Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH).
The JTH serves as the ultimate government hospital for the nation and doubles as a training facility for doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health professionals.
Despite its importance, several citizens have complained about the poor services provided by the hospital. They said the facility is largely run by interns, as most consultants focus on private hospitals due to inadequate government pay.
These interns often work long 24-hour shifts while struggling to afford transport, food, or even basic gloves to attend to patients. In some cases, they risk their lives treating patients without protective equipment.
The hospital receives most of its patients as referrals from private hospitals and states, who often fall into three categories: critically ill patients transferred to reduce private hospital death records, financially exhausted patients who can no longer afford treatment, and patients with chronic conditions requiring palliative care.
In many cases, even basic supplies such as syringes, IV fluids, or cannulas must be purchased outside the hospital because of inadequate government funding.
Tragedies such as the recent loss of the CEO of Miss South Sudan after a cesarean section have underscored the fragility of maternal health services. Interns themselves have been seen pooling their own money to buy insulin and antihypertensives for patients in urgent need.
