At least 41 students graduated from the Light Institute for Health Sciences and Advanced Management (LIHSAM) in the Unity State capital, Bentiu, with diplomas from the College of Health and other departments over the weekend.
The institute’s branch was established in January 2020 at the Bentiu IDP Camp.
Unity State Health Minister Kai Riek who represented Governor Justice Riek Biem at the function at Bentiu Independence Stadium congratulated the graduates and said they go and work at Bentiu Hospital to save lives during the current cholera outbreak.
“I would like to thank the institute for bringing education to our state. This is a good thing for us as the government when an institute comes and graduates 41 students from the health college and other departments,” he said. “Education is all about the people giving information to students and even if you are under trees or in buildings, the information received is the same.”
For his part, Michael Majang, the Director General in the state education ministry, said it was the first time he witnessed such a wonderful graduation ceremony in the state and congratulated the graduates.
“I can inform you that the governor has been giving us directives as a ministry of education to approve and authorize colleges or institutions that want to operate here in Unity State and give them the relevant documents to promote education,” he revealed.
Meanwhile, Simpson Lok, the principal of Star International University in Bentiu, lauded Dr. James Nhial Ruai for establishing the Light Institute for Health Sciences and Advanced Management branch in Bentiu.
“It is very important to all of us to have enough colleges or schools to promote the education system in the state because all of our students used to go to Juba for studies after high school,” he said. Nowadays, we have a Star International University in Bentiu and Light Institute and others which students can join.”
George Duop who graduated as a clinical officer appreciated the management of the institute and said they faced several challenges during their studies but worked hard to complete their respective courses.
“We congratulate ourselves as students for getting to this graduation ceremony today and I appeal to those who complete high school to join Light Institute,” he stated. “The biggest challenge we faced was flying from Bentiu to Juba to sit the national examinations. We are going to join our colleagues in Bentiu Hospital to fight the cholera outbreak and to help our communities in different ways.”
Dr. James Nhial Ruai, the Executive Director of Light Institute in South Sudan, the graduates were from departments of community and security studies, public administration, logistics and procurement management, accountancy for finance, business administration, agricultural sciences, public health, and nursing.
“The students spent three years in the college from January 2020 to December 2024. Next year in June, the students will not go to Juba for examinations but sit here in Bentiu and the health ministry and school management will take care of it,” he said. “The national ministry of health approved that the examination should be brought here. All of us must promote equality in education across South Sudan and not only in Unity State.”
“My message to graduates is go and help our community in Bentiu Hospital and at the various health centers in the counties,” he added.