169 health workers graduated from the Maridi Health Science Institute on Friday in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state.
The institute’s eleventh graduating class included 42 clinical officers, 46 registered midwives, and 41 enrolled midwives. There were 37 women among the group.
Janet Michael, the director of nursing and midwifery at the national ministry of health, said during the graduation ceremony that no woman should deliver her child alone but should be accompanied by a skilled midwife to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
She said her ministry is concerned about training people so that South Sudan can fill its gap in trained medical personnel. Janet advised the new graduates to have love when serving people, saying they should not rush for richness.
Institute needs funding
The institute’s principle tutor Patrick Taban said the school faces challenges including a shortfall of four teachers. He said they did not admit new students this year due to lack of funding, and that insecurity along the roads has limited access to supplies.
Taban said the lack of banking services and the high prices of goods due to insecurity and poor economy has also made purchasing of supplies difficult.
Maridi Health Science Institute is supported by AMREF.