Southern Sudan Healthcare Organization

Background: South Sudan is one of Africa's most diverse and culturally rich nations, with a population of 7.5-10 million people and more than 60 major ethnic groups. It is also the world's youngest nation. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, putting an end to a 22-year-long civil war. The effects of the conflict were devastating and enduring, resulting in the displacement of 4 million people, including the 40,000 "Lost Boys of Sudan". Unfortunately, war broke out once again in 2013, forcing an additional 2.2 million refugees to flee their homes. In 2008 SSHCO was able to construct an $800,000 clinic in the village of Maar, South Sudan. Since its creation, ... read more Background: South Sudan is one of Africa's most diverse and culturally rich nations, with a population of 7.5-10 million people and more than 60 major ethnic groups. It is also the world's youngest nation. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, putting an end to a 22-year-long civil war. The effects of the conflict were devastating and enduring, resulting in the displacement of 4 million people, including the 40,000 "Lost Boys of Sudan". Unfortunately, war broke out once again in 2013, forcing an additional 2.2 million refugees to flee their homes. In 2008 SSHCO was able to construct an $800,000 clinic in the village of Maar, South Sudan. Since its creation, the health clinic has provided new levels of healthcare to the people of Maar and surrounding areas for the first time. The clinic provides healthcare services to people in need, treating up to 1, 500 people monthly. Our Mission: We exist to improve the health and well-being of South Sudanese people so that they may have hope and prosperity. Our Vision: To make the village of Maar in South Sudan the shining example of sustainable development. Our Core Pillars: 1. Health- Since its creation, our health clinic has provided unprecedented levels of healthcare to the people in Maar and its surrounding areas. Our clinic has provided thousands of people with a better-quality health services. In 2020, with the historic flooding that has affected half of South Sudan, SSHCO responded by providing health services to 94,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). As a result, our operation expenditures have increased and without other sources of funding provided, our limited resources were depleted. Malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, and maternal and child health remain our most prevalent issues and our top priorities of care. 2. Education - We seek to develop partners for a community-funded education system and approved teachers and curriculum. Program goal is to have the literacy rate increase to gender neutral and >50% compared to the country's 27%. 3. Food Security- Our world leaders have consistently identified both healthcare and food security as the two greatest risk factors in South Sudan. Basic nutritional needs are fundamentally intertwined with our mission. Through our partnerships with organizations and subject matter experts, SSHCO is dedicated to facilitating the training and development of agricultural entrepreneurs and logistical solutions in South Sudan that will increase seasonal resilience and growth. 4. Economic Development- Our vision for the future is to establish a community that has a thriving economy so that it is able to support its health system. This could be done through partnerships designed to create sustainable small businesses in the community to promote a healthy local economy, which then fuels funding to our various health programs. We know the importance of also developing partnerships with government experts and Dinka cultural experts who can aid in the development of oversight committees dedicated to native-lead sustainable development solutions. 5. Community- This pillar includes the improvement of regional security measures, healthcare programs, small business support and city planning. We believe that the creation of lasting relationships with community leaders is irreplaceable in the accomplishment of our stated goals. The solutions that we propose, and the many others that will be needed after the flooding emergency has passed, must be based on the design, and works of those who they directly impact the citizens of South Sudan. As such, SSHCO seeks to form relationships and partnerships with key organizations who can help us in overseeing the completion of these goals. Together we seek to create community ownership of community solutions, as opposed to foreign ownership to foreign solutions.