The director general at Wau Teaching Hospital in Western Bahr el Ghazal state said the main referral hospital in the region lacks essential services, drugs, and professional doctors.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Doctor Thon Mangok, said the hospital has been adversely affected by the current economic downturn and that many professionals have quit their jobs at the health facility.
“Our hospital is suffering from many issues and the current economic situation brought this about. The hospital does not have professional doctors and this has reduced its capacity as a referral hospital,” he said. “There are no drugs although there was some little support from health partner organizations. The government support cannot cater and the hospital is presently operating at the level of 40 percent.”
“The little medicine we have is not sufficient and we send patients to go and buy medicine at the nearest pharmacies,” Dr. Mangok added.
He said the hospital’s outpatient department is operating without difficulties and called on the government to support the hospital.
“The consultation department is available with doctors attending to outpatients. We have authorities, we have a vice president for service cluster, the national assembly, and the council of states, my message is that they should help us,” he said. “This hospital serves more than four states including Abyei, Western Equatoria, and Bentiu. it is not only for Western Bahr el Ghazal State so it should not only be left to the state government to support.”
In April, Western Bahr el Ghazal State Health Minister Dr. Vincent Taban revealed that many doctors working at Wau Teaching Hospital left their positions and went for better-paying jobs with NGOs.