By Bida Elly David
South Sudan Ministry of Health has raised concerns over continuous health insecurity concerns across the Country noting that it may escalate further if government and partners pay less attention to mitigate the tragedies.
She made the statement following the declaration of the Cholera outbreak, measles and other diseases that hit the lives of citizens in some states across the Country.
Speaking during the launch of South Sudan’s one multisector coordination platform in Juba this week, national minister of health, Yolanda Awel Deng said that both humans and animals are at high risk amid tragic health threats that require quick intervention through collaboration with other line ministries.
She said citizens and animals are battling continuous health problems because of the pollution of the ecosystem and air generated from industrialization in the oil-producing states.
She hinted that it is the role of the ministry of petroleum to ensure consistent control and management of the refinery in a way that would not passively impact residents living in the oil-producing areas saying that environmental management induction to staff is crucial to set it free from hazards.
Minister Yolanda echoed that the ministry of health after the outbreak of Ebola demonstrated efforts through the help of the government and the World Health Organization and mitigated it but still there is a need to open eyes as strange health issues are in continuous spike.
She underscored that her ministry is working hand in hand with the ministry of water resources and irrigation to introduce wash programs in combating diseases like cholera, malaria and typhoid among others.
“We managed to deal with Ebola in the Country until it is done. We need to focus on major areas of health against our species to make sure we mitigate the challenges. We managed to fight Ebola. There is no Ebola now,” she affirmed.
Moreover, Yolanda reiterated that the only way to strengthen South Sudan’s economy is when the health sector is improved for the people.
She pointed out that the health of the people will determine the status of the Country’s economy since health is wealth.
Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Gbayee Doe the country representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) reiterated that his organization would stand farm in supporting the government, especially in the areas of health security.
He said that UNDP is concerned with the lives of South Sudanese people following the historic conflict that affected the majority noting that they and other partners are in full swing to extend development initiatives to set the citizens free.