Victoria Simon, a 33-year-old mother of six, recalls the moment she feared she would have to raise thousands of dollars to save her son’s life.
Instead, she found help closer to home.
Simon is among residents in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, benefiting from free medical services provided by Chinese doctors, part of a broader health cooperation effort between China and South Sudan aimed at strengthening the country’s fragile healthcare system.
Across Juba, several residents say the initiative is easing the burden of costly treatment, particularly for families who cannot afford specialized care or travel abroad.
South Sudan’s health sector has struggled since independence in 2011, facing shortages of trained personnel, weak infrastructure and limited access to specialized services. The first Chinese medical team arrived in 2012 and has since been working mainly at Juba Teaching Hospital, the country’s main referral facility.
Over the years, successive teams have treated many patients, performed surgeries and conducted outreach programs in underserved communities, helping to expand access to care and reduce pressure on local hospitals.
In interviews with Radio Tamazuj recently, several residents said the availability of free treatment locally has reduced the need to seek care in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Sudan or Egypt, where costs for travel, accommodation and medical procedures are often beyond reach.
“It has greatly reduced the burden of medical costs for many families,” Simon said.
Her 6-year-old son had suffered from a prolonged respiratory infection, and doctors had recommended treatment abroad — an option she said would have cost about $15,000.
“I was worried and helpless,” she said. “I did not know how I would raise that kind of money.”
She said her son instead received specialized treatment in Juba at no cost and has since recovered.
“What once seemed impossible became a reality without the need to travel abroad,” she said.
For Rahama Lodu Kenyei, the experience was different.
She said she sold land to raise about $20,000 to take her 19-year-old son abroad for surgery, including around $4,000 for plane tickets. The operation was successful, but months later she learned that similar procedures were being offered for free in Juba by Chinese doctors.
“I was shocked,” she said. “If last year had been like this year, I would not have lost my land.”
Despite the financial loss, she said she is grateful her son survived.
Others describe similar relief.
James Thou Malou, a father of four, said his child had suffered from a blood infection for months, but he could not afford treatment at multiple hospitals he visited.
“Some of us come from poor families and cannot afford the high cost of living or medical treatment,” he said.
He said Chinese doctors later provided free treatment for his child.
“This has been a great blessing to my family,” he said.
Health officials say the program has contributed to improving services, though challenges remain.
Dr. Kur Deng, a health specialist at Juba Teaching Hospital, said Chinese support has included medical equipment as well as construction and renovation of health facilities.
“This is a good effort that benefits the people of South Sudan,” he said.
Dr. Zhang Erqing, head of the Chinese medical team, said the doctors often use weekends to provide free services and travel to remote areas to reach underserved communities.
“We are not only working in Juba, but we also travel to remote areas to deliver medical services to those who need them most,” he said.
The team provides consultations in multiple fields, including internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery and infectious diseases, and conducts basic screenings such as blood pressure, blood sugar and malaria tests. More complex cases are referred to hospitals.
“We will continue visiting other communities to extend our services,” Zhang said.
Ter Manyan Garwech, a South Sudanese civil society leader, welcomed China’s support in the health sector, citing improvements in infrastructure and healthcare, including work at Juba Teaching Hospital. He said deeper cooperation could extend to other sectors such as transport and road construction.
For families like Simon’s, however, the impact is already clear.
Access to free treatment at home, she said, has spared them not only financial hardship but also the uncertainty of seeking care far from home.