By James Innocent
To ensure healthy upbringing of their children, families in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, have been advised to utilize family planning.
The call was made during the graduation ceremony for over 115 graduates of the Yei Science Institute on Wednesday. The event brought together government representatives, partners, parents, students, and other well-wishers from various backgrounds to witness the graduation.
At the ceremony, the Director for Training under the South Sudan National Ministry of Health, Reverend Jennet, advised communities to adopt family planning methods as a responsible approach to spacing births.
She emphasized that this practice can reduce family irresponsibility, which might lead to children becoming street children due to inadequate parental care.
Reverend Jennet stated, “planning is responsible parenting. Have only the children you can provide for – children you can educate and feed so they grow up healthy. This will help avoid situations where malnourished children frequently need hospital care. No one should interfere with medical doctors or object to others accessing family planning; such actions are wrong and against the laws of the Ministry of Health.”
“If you desire to have ten children, ensure proper spacing between their births. Many children are currently loitering in the streets without education, and some are joining harmful groups,” she added.
Emmanuel Taban Seme, the Commissioner of Yei River County in Central Equatoria State, urged all young people to take responsibility for their children to prevent the issue of street children.
In a related development, the Commissioner commended the graduates for their dedication in completing their Diploma courses.
He noted that their skills are crucial for supporting the 14 medical facilities across the county, which currently face a shortage of healthcare workers.
The Principal of Yei Science Institute, Koul Ajok Wac, highlighted the challenges the institution has faced since 2016 but praised the staff for their commitment to keeping it operational.
Jamba Agnes, the Head of Nursing and Midwifery at Yei Teaching Science Institute, called on the government and partner organizations in Yei to consider employing the graduates, emphasizing that they have acquired the necessary skills to support the communities’ health needs.
Meanwhile, Jobile Ceaser Daniel, a participant at the graduation, applauded the management of Yei Teaching Science Institute for their tireless efforts in ensuring the students’ success despite numerous challenges encountered during their studies.
He further advised all 115 graduates to be diligent in delivering healthcare services to the community, recognizing it as their responsibility.
He encouraged them not to remain idle at home while job opportunities await them.
Likambo Moses, another graduate from the institute, emphasized that their acquired knowledge should be used effectively to protect their communities from diseases and address health-related issues.
He pointed out that many medical facilities, especially in rural areas, lack qualified personnel to run essential services.