SuddHealth

Improving overall health care in South Sudan

Jonglei and Upper Nile

Jonglei and Upper Nile are the two largest states in the South Sudan. They are also the most inaccessible states, as the few roads that exist are flooded for half the year. Large portions of these two states make up the largest swamp in the world, the Sudd.

Half a century of violent civil war (1956-2005) destroyed what little infrastructure existed, including many parts of the existing health care system. Less than 5% of the region's two million people have access to any medicine or health care.

SuddHealth

IMA collaborates closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) to expand the Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) in Jonglei and Upper Nile States, the country’s two largest and most geographically challenged states. IMA ensures that project strategy reflects the GoSS’s objectives to develop core institutional capabilities of the public health administration, including a phased infrastructure and equipment investment plan, investment in human resources in health, and development of a pharmaceutical management, supply and distribution system. IMA is incorporating a health management information systems (HMIS) component to improve data management, maintenance and utilization for improved reporting and evaluation for forward thinking.

Project Activities

The BPHS is a standard package of care including preventive, primary, and reproductive health services such as immunization, micronutrient supplementation, maternal and child health, family planning, malaria prevention and treatment, HIV/AIDS sensitization/treatment, and curative services for diarrhea and tuberculosis. IMA coordinates with the State Ministry of Health utilizing a two-track strategy of: 1) building core capacities of the health system, and 2) providing immediate delivery of essential services to a significant portion of the population. IMA is training personnel in health delivery as well as the new electronic HMIS system which is being implemented in country health departments to enable better reporting and use of health data; an incentive program has also been designed to help foster successful results. Essential supplies for improved health facility delivery of the Basic Package of Health Services including behavior change communication/ information, education change materials; newborn and delivery materials and equipment; antenatal care and family planning supplies; and V-Sat equipment for internet connectivity are obtained and distributed.

Achievements

• High treatment rates: 106,585 under five treated for malaria, and 497,924 children receiving Vitamin A.
• Conducted comprehensive training: 130 personnel trained in HMIS and 254 front line health workers in maternal and child survival skills.
• Extensive behavior change communication/ information, education change campaigning including distribution of over 8,000 messages.

Where We Work

South Sudan