(LAKES STATE) – Patients receiving medical services at the Kiir Mayardit Women’s Hospital in Rumbek, Lakes State, are expressing their appreciation for the quality of care they are receiving. They have described the facility as a vital resource for the health and well-being of mothers and children.
The hospital, which reopened this year after being closed due to civil conflict, has become a reliable referral centre in the state, offering patients access to essential medicines and consistent medical attention.
The inception of the hospital dates back to 2012 when the South Sudanese government, with support from China Aid, laid the foundation for three women’s hospitals across the country. Despite being equipped in 2014, the hospital had to close its doors for several years due to conflicts. However, it fully resumed operations in 2024 under a government-led initiative supported by international partners.
Presently, the hospital admits between 50 to 70 patients on a daily basis and stands as one of the largest and best equipped medical centres outside the capital city, Juba.
One patient, Adeng Malual Machar, expressed her gratitude for the life-saving care she received at the hospital when she was in a critical condition due to complications with her unborn baby.
Another patient, Mary Ajak, shared her positive experience at the hospital, stating that her child who arrived severely ill showed significant improvement after being treated at the facility.
A key achievement of the hospital is its consistent supply of medicines, a rarity in the fragile health sector of South Sudan. Dr. Sidi Maimu Alugu, a nurse at the hospital, highlighted the timely and sufficient supply of medicines, which are provided free of charge to patients through funding from the World Bank via UNICEF.
Despite the successes, challenges such as limited space for patient numbers, salary delays for staff, and power shortages remain ongoing issues. Dr. Donato Akim, the acting medical director, outlined the hospital’s goal to become a national referral centre for maternity and pediatric care.
Dr. Joshua Jeremiah, the hospital’s Director General, stressed the critical need for sustainable power supply to ensure the continuous and efficient operation of modern medical equipment at the facility.
