By Bida Elly David
The first deputy speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly has raised concerns over poor state of roads, medical facilities in some States across the Country saying that there is need to invest much efforts to improve connectivity before it worsens.
He made the statement over the weekend following his visit to Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State for the handing over ceremony of medical equipment to the County Public Health Care Center (PHCC).
Nathaniel Oyet, in a statement on his Facebook wall yesterday said that Magwi is currently battling shortage of health facilities following the influx of returnees from the camps.
Oyet said that with the great population returning from the camps, Magwi County requires more hospitals to be established but not Public Health Care Centers which would tend to be limited when coming to treatment.
The first deputy speaker added that traders in the County face difficulties in exporting their local produce to the market due to the high rate of insecurity and the bad nature of roads hampering mobility.
“I am deeply concerned of the state of the roads and service sector. Magwi County deserves a hospital not PHCC to cope with the rising population and demand. Road network should be upgraded to facilitate trade and production in the area,” he stated.
Oyet further emphasized that delivering services to states across the Country is the duty of the national government in collaboration with state authorities but once left hanging, the citizens become victims to starvation.
He called on the citizens of South Sudan especially those of Magwi County to prioritize farming as an activity to promote local trade and improve their standards of living to mitigate complete dependency on foreign goods.
However, Oyet echoed that despite his warm welcome to Magwi, he felt that the citizens were in desperate situation that requires immediate help.
“It was a wonderful visit to Magwi County. I was delighted for the wonderful reception and happy to interact with different segments of my community,” Oyet said.
The legislator was grateful to grace the handing over of the medical equipment to the County authority through SSANA the partners.
“Overseeing the handing over of medical equipment at Magwi PHCC, I am thankful to SSANA for the kind donation to the community of Magwi County. We shall strive to fill the gap of service delivery to our people,” he added.
David Otto, the commissioner of Magwi County appreciated SSANA organization for having donated the medical equipment as a means to help the population of the County from their desperate situation.
He also appreciated Nathaniel Oyet and the entire citizens for their turn up for the handover ceremony and demonstrated his commitment to shape the County to a better place to citizens.
He urged the national government and well-wishers to extend their hands of support towards aiding the government of Eastern Equatoria State especially Magwi County amid the continuous influx of returnees’ population.
David said that the citizens have embarked on preparing their land as farming season is approaching noting that the place is fertile for farming but roads and schools need to be improved.