Southern Sudan Holds Referendum on Independence

IMA remains committed to the health care needs of more than 2.5 million people in Southern Sudan's two largest states, Jonglei and Upper Nile.

By Charles Franzén/IMA

On January 9th Southern Sudan will hold its long-awaited referendum on national sovereignty. Citizens of the south will be asked one question only: do they support the independence of the territory and secession from the north? Although the international community expects the answer to be a resounding one in favor of independence, and the vote itself is expected to be peaceful, the aftermath of such a vote is unpredictable.

IMA World Health has been leading a health systems strengthening effort under the Multi-Donor Trust Fund/World Bank since 2008 in Southern Sudan's two largest and most inaccessible states, Jonglei and Upper Nile. While the result of the vote this coming Sunday is not yet known, IMA will remain fully committed to the health care needs of the more than 2.5 million people who live in these two states, many of whom spent decades as internally-displaced persons or in exile outside the country.

"No matter what happens after January 9th, we are totally committed to the people whom we serve," says Rick Santos, IMA President. "IMA continues to work improving basic health service delivery throughout these two states and that means more training for managers as well as collecting data to measure progress."

Reports coming from Southern Sudan indicate that southerners living in the north are making their way south for the referendum. There is growing excitement as the big day nears.

Six years after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended more than two decades of civil war, Southerners are gearing up for the biggest step of all.

"Southern Sudan deserves peace after so many years of bloodshed," says Rick Santos. "IMA will walk this new road with our Sudanese brothers and sisters as long as we are needed."