Renovation of the Tekekeka-Juba road by an SPLA engineering company began on Tuesday, with the purpose of improving basic service delivery to citizens in the area.

Speaking to journalists at the site, Governor Juma Ali Malou said his government wants to stop migration of local residents to neighbouring countries due to hunger through construction of the Juba-Terekeka-Yirol road.

He further said the engineering company was repairing potholes only to facilitate movements of vehicles and people, saying the ongoing renovation is partial.

Lack of services

Separately, Terekeka citizens complained about lack of basic services such as health, education and infrastructure in the area.

Emmanuel Frederic Laku, medical director of the Terekeka Hospital, told Radio Tamazuj that the health facility was facing an acute shortage of doctors, medicines, water services and electricity.

The health official reported dilapidated infrastructure, while calling on the relevant authorities to renovate the main hospital in the state. He added that the hospital is being run by two medical doctors only.

Laku reported prevalence of fistula and bilharzia diseases as well as other water borne infections in the state. He also complained about an acute shortage of medicines at the health facility's main storage.

The medical director pointed out that all counties have not yet received any shipment of medicines from the state government.