Yei River County of Central Equatoria State on Friday joined the rest of the world and celebrated International Nursing and Midwifery Day under the local theme, ‘Our Nurses, Our Future.’’
The day is celebrated on 12 May every year to create awareness to improve health services in the community.
Speaking during the event, Emmanuel Tedrige Uriah, the chairperson of the South Sudan Nurses and Midwifery Association (SSNAMA) Yei Chapter, said the day is celebrated annually to commemorate the efforts of the nurses and midwives in serving the communities.
‘’International Day of Nurses and Midwives is celebrated annually to recognize the importance of these nurses and the midwives in the country, and we understand that this day is basically to commemorate the efforts of the nurses and midwives. And I assure you that you are doing a great job, and our great job has been manifested in the lives of the patients,” he said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj during the event, several midwives and nurses urged the community to support their profession and appealed to the government to back them up in all aspects.
Alice Saima Philip, the chairperson of the Yei River County Women’s Association, called on the nurses and the midwives to remain patient despite the fact that they are underpaid.
‘’You are caring for the lives of the people. God bless you for what you are doing, we do not have anything to give you, and I know that your children are suffering because your salary is very small but bear with your community. The situation we are in is not good, but continue working, and in the future, you will get more than what you are getting now,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Yei River County, Ezbon Gale, encouraged the midwives and nurses to control their emotions and love themselves as they offer their services to the community.
‘’Nurses are usually active and time conscious, so please don’t fail to manage time as nurses and midwives. Let’s be active; let’s manage our situation. To remind you, we are serving people, so managing our time well and our profession is very important. A nurse, a midwife or a doctor is preferred to be the last person to become annoyed if you do not know your quality. So don’t be annoyed easily because equally, somebody may lose their life because of your emotions,” he said.
The number of midwives in South Sudan has risen to more than 400 from an estimated eight when the country became independent in 2011, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Still, less than 10 percent of women giving birth in South Sudan receive the help they need to give birth safely, according to UNFPA.