Authorities at the South Sudan Water Corporation in Juba are demanding that the administration of Juba Teaching Hospital pay water bill arrears of 14 million South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) or risk having the medical facility’s water disconnected.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj in his office in Juba over the weekend, Joseph Ibere, the managing director of South Sudan Water Corporation, said the administration of Juba Teaching Hospital has not paid its water bills for some months and there was no clear reason for defaulting.
“This is a huge amount of money,” Ibere said. “It would have helped the corporation to increase its services. We would have expanded our pipelines to other areas or we could continue to effectively and exclusively offer services for 24 Hours.”
The water corporation now works only for 10 to 15 hours a day.
Ibere said they do not know why the administration of the hospital is unable to pay them.
“There are patients and their families. So, I hope we will not be forced to cut off the water supply,” Ibere said. “We are aware that patients require regular water for operation or any other use.”
For his part, the medical director at Juba teaching hospital, Dr. Maker Isaac, confirmed that the hospital administration owes the water corporation 14 million SSP and that they have tabled the bill to higher authorities.
“Our water supply was cut off and I went personally to their office and explained our situation. Now the water is working and we are working hard to see to it that the money is paid to them,” Dr. Maker said.
He appreciated the cooperation and humanity shown by the water corporation’s management.
“The hospital cannot stay without water. Where can the vulnerable go?” he asked.