Panyijiar health facilities grappling with shortage of drugs

A medical officer of the International Rescue Committee examines a woman suffering from cholera on March 4, 2017, in a clinic in Ganyiel, Panyijiar county, in South Sudan. (AFP/Albert Gonzalez Farran)

Health facilities in Panyijiar County are grappling with a shortage of essential medical supplies, residents and officials have said.

Health facilities in Panyijiar County are grappling with a shortage of essential medical supplies, residents and officials have said.

Maria Kerbino Nyuon, a resident of Panyijiar County, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that they are suffering due to the acute shortage of medicines in their area.

 “We are requesting organizations and aid agencies to come to support us with medicines. People will die if the government is not putting our issues as its first agenda,” she said.

She stated that citizens in remote areas within the county cannot trek up to Panyijiar town, which she said might have some medicines.

“The situation of mothers and pregnant women is very bad because many pregnant women die during delivery due to the lack of good healthcare. Patients do not get medicines, so their situation is dire,” she said.

For his part, Peter Yoak, the county’s health director, admitted that the county is experiencing an acute shortage of medicines at health facilities.

”The UN agencies that used to support us told us that since the beginning of May, they will deliver medicines, but until now, no drugs have been delivered to the health department,” he said.

 “We, the local authorities, have raised concerns about a shortage of drug supplies in the entire county, including Panyijiar headquarters, Gany and Nayak primary care centres. Our community is really suffering due to the shortage of drugs,” he added.

Mr. Yoak urged the health partners to intervene by supporting the county with essential medical supplies.

Meanwhile, Dr. Duol Biem, a Director General at Unity State’s Ministry of Health, said some areas in the county are facing a severe shortage of medicines.

 “I was informed by the county health department in Panyijiar County that there are some areas that do not have enough drugs at the moment, but there are some that have,” Biem added.

Duol announced that drug supplies may arrive in the county in the coming few days.

Years of conflict and underinvestment have resulted in a minimally functional health system in South Sudan.

The government’s commitments to the population’s health are stipulated in the constitution. However, the technical and operational capacity of the health sector is currently unable to meet these commitments.

The government relies on the support of international partners to fund health services.