About 103 students have graduated with diplomas in nursing and midwifery in Juba on Wednesday.
The students are a combination of 70 students from the Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery and 33 from the Kajo-Keji Institute of Health Sciences.
The occasion was organized under the auspices of South Sudan’s Minister of Health, Madam Elizabeth Acuei.
Addressing the graduates during the ceremony, the minister of health, Elizabeth Acuei urged the students to improve health services and reduce the mortality rate among children in the country.
“As you graduate today, we are expecting you to provide quality health care services to the different communities in South Sudan. The ministry of health is committed to contributing to the South Sudan government call of reducing newborn and child mortality and morbidity rate in the country by increasing the number of its skilled health attenders,” minister Acuei stressed.
The Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery has been operating with funds from multiple donor organizations in conjunction with the government of South Sudan.
Speaking during the same event, the Sweden representative who spoke on behalf of the partners that are funding the training, Mrs. Jacqueline Bernhard urged the students to use the skills for saving lives.
“You are an important cornerstone in the joint effort to save lives, reduce maternal mortality and provide quality health care on an agreed basis for the people of South Sudan,” Jacqueline said.
She pledged that Sweden will continue to fund the health sector in South Sudan.
In her speech during the occasion, the Director for training at the Juba College for Nursing and Midwifery, Dr. Janet Michael urged the graduates to use the skills they learned for changing lives among the communities in South Sudan.
“And at the same time as you go out especially, the midwives, you are going to be advocates of change in our society from bad practices, traditional bad practices and as well as making sure that you change the attitude of our people in ending child marriage,” Dr. Janet advised students.
She stressed that all the new graduates will be employed in the health facilities across the country.
Speaking on behalf of students during the graduation ceremony, Mr. Bona Bol Riak hailed the ministry of health and the partners for funding the program.
“I would like to appreciate the ministry of health for initiating this program of scholarship for the health cadres where nurses and midwives are trained to the expectation of the world standard. I would like to bring to your notice; we are capable and ready enough to be working in Africa and the world at large,” he expressed.