(MALAKAL COUNTY) – Médecins Sans Frontières has started supporting surgical services at Malakal Teaching Hospital in Upper Nile State to address an urgent need for specialist medical care. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, the organisation renovated the operating theatre and the surgical ward to provide emergency procedures for the local population. This facility serves as the primary referral centre for the entire state and is the only hospital offering specialist care in a region stretching over 300 kilometres from Malakal to the Ethiopian border.
The hospital has faced significant pressure recently due to rising insecurity and a lack of specialist staff and medical supplies. To help the government manage these challenges, the medical charity is providing hands on support for emergency surgeries such as Caesarean sections and trauma care. The newly upgraded services include a fully equipped operating room and a 30 bed ward for patients recovering from surgery. These improvements are designed to ensure that people in Malakal and surrounding areas can access lifesaving treatment without travelling long distances.
Zakaria Mwatia, the head of the mission in South Sudan, stated that the lack of surgical care in Upper Nile State has caused great difficulty for the community. He noted that the arrival of thousands of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan has increased the demand for health services. The renovation of the hospital is part of a larger effort to sustain medical care in the region. In addition to surgery, the teams already manage a large paediatric programme and a 30 bed unit for patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure.
The medical group also worked with the Ministry of Health throughout 2025 to respond to incidents involving large numbers of injured people. The upgraded surgical unit will make it easier for the hospital to handle such emergencies in the future. During the past year in Malakal alone, the organisation provided over 57,000 consultations and treated more than 11,000 cases of malaria. They also screened over 77,000 children for malnutrition to help combat the food security crisis in the state.
The cost of maintaining these specialist services is substantial for the national health budget. Mr Mwatia called for more investment from both the government and other health groups to support primary and specialist care along the Sobat corridor. He mentioned that more funding is vital to keep the health system running as support from some international donors declines.
