The ministry of health in Torit State and its partners on Monday launched a new initiative to improve health services in the rural areas.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj during the launch, Dr. Pontius Bayo, the Torit State hospital coordinator said the Boma health initiative seeks to deliver integrated packages on health promotion and disease prevention, besides the training of local health officials.
He further said the program is an initiative derived from the ruling SPLM Party’s vision of taking services closer to people.
“You know our health system over the years has been a problem, there are communities in this country who find it difficult to access health services. They are very far from the facilities that we have,” Bayo said.
He pointed out that the launch of the program attracted health partners, civil society groups, women and youth organizations, including village chiefs who will help advocate for the success of Boma health initiative.
Bayo did not disclose the cost of the new project, but said health partners have small resources to start with Magwi, Pageri and Torit counties.
The chairperson for the specialized committee for health in the state assembly, Flora Solomon Lowiling said lawmakers will collaborate with health partners at Boma levels to save people.
She, however, expressed concerns that majority of South Sudanese are still not accessing the needed services due to the conflict.
On her part, the state minister for health, Paska Hifita Oduho says the initiative will help reduce maternal mortality rates in the state.
“Probably the teams that will be trained will be able to detect other issues within the communities, that is disease prevention and also sensitize them especially the mothers. There will be somebody who will be attending to them before we make late referrals,” she said.
Meanwhile, the acting state governor, Dr. Ukidimoi Ugura said the program came at the right time and will have everyone on board.
He said controlling diseases at local levels will guarantee a healthy state.
“I am sure when we manage to control illnesses at the Boma level, the state will be healthier because 90% of our people are living in the rural areas,” Ugura said.
He urged health partners to empower communities at the grassroots level.