Physical Health South Sudan Project #10609

A Healthier Future for South Sudan's Families

by International Medical Corps

Project Report | Mar 1, 2022
Creating South Sudan's Only Intensive Care Unit

By Christin Runkle | Senior Specialist, Internal Communications

Our team maintains intensive care unit equipment

In many countries where we work, the COVID-19 pandemic has overburdened healthcare systems that were already ill-equipped to care for extremely sick people. The health system in South Sudan is one such example. However, our work to establish an infectious disease unit (IDU)—which became home to South Sudan’s first and only Level 1 intensive care unit (ICU)—has helped the country better prepare itself to take care of its sickest patients.

The World Health Organization and South Sudan’s Ministry of Health built the Dr. John Garang Infectious Disease Unit in Juba in late 2018, and in February 2019, handed over operation of the IDU to International Medical Corps.

In early 2020, the country was suddenly faced with a new challenge: COVID-19. That spring, we received the funding necessary to increase the level of care that the IDU could provide, upgrading from an isolation unit to an infectious disease treatment facility. Still, we were able only to provide minimal support to patients: monitoring them, and providing fluids, basic treatments and medications. We did the best we could, bringing in the additional resources, drugs and equipment that were needed until November 2020, when the Ministry of Health requested that our Emergency Medical Team (EMT) increase the level of care at the IDU even further.

The EMT sent five critical-care specialists to the IDU: a team lead, an ICU nurse, an ICU physician with a background in anesthesia and critical care medicine, an ICU physician trained in point-of-care diagnosis, and a biomedical engineer who could review the unit’s equipment.

“The EMT started from scratch, doing an assessment of the critical-care capacity in South Sudan,” explains Dr. Abdou, International Medical Corps’ Medical Director in South Sudan. The report found low capabilities for critical care in South Sudan and made a number of recommendations. “We started implementing those recommendations to increase capacity in the IDU to a Level 1 intensive care unit,” he says.

Today, the eight-bed Level 1 ICU enables critical-care workers to provide additional medical support to patients who are very ill. It has been equipped with sophisticated, real-time monitoring equipment, ventilators and supplementary oxygen devices. Health staff can use a new point-of-care laboratory to check blood hemoglobin or protein levels in urine, or to test people for diseases such as HIV or malaria.

“We now have a Level 1 ICU—the first ever in South Sudan that is accessible to the general public—where everyone can go, and which everyone can rely on,” says Dr. Abdou. “It has made a very big difference, and it has brought hope that South Sudan can start thinking about how to expand critical-care capacity. That is a big impact for the future of the health system in this country—and that was brought about by the IDU and 100% supported by International Medical Corps.”

With support from the GlobalGiving community and other donors, International Medical Corps continues to bring hope and healing to South Sudan.

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Dec 1, 2021
Dr. Abdou Combatting Disease Outbreaks

By Caitlin Bartkus | Associate Specialist, Resource Development

Dr. Abdou doffing personal protective equipment

In South Sudan, hostility continues to simmer, hampering efforts to improve public health standards in a country that has one of the world’s highest infant-mortality rates. The food-security situation remains desperate and the number of people at risk of starvation has increased. Potential for disease is extremely high, with large numbers of displaced people and sharply reduced access to healthcare.

Despite all of these challenges, International Medical Corps continues to provide lifesaving healthcare, nutrition, mental health and protection services in five of the country’s 10 states. And it is our committed staff members, like Dr. Abdou, who make this work possible.

Dr. Abdou, International Medical Corps’ Medical Director in South Sudan, was inspired to become a doctor when his hometown of Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was overwhelmed as hundreds of thousands of people sought refuge from the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. “I could see how people were suffering,” Dr. Abdou says. “I got the feeling that I needed to do something in my life to help people, at least in the future.”

In March 2019, Dr. Abdou came to International Medical Corps as a technical coordinator, charged with preparing South Sudan for a potential Ebola outbreak. Luckily, the Ebola outbreak in the neighboring DRC did not spread across the border, but Dr. Abdou’s expertise proved useful as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold.

“Our greatest achievement has been keeping all the health facilities operational during the peak of COVID-19. When the pandemic started, my biggest worry was that many of our workers would get infected, and we would end up closing our health facilities in the POC [protection of civilians site]—which would be a disaster, because no one else is there to provide healthcare,” he explains. “And we succeeded—none of our health facilities closed because of COVID. We put a lot of safety measures in place, and we talked to staff on almost a daily basis to make sure they follow those protocols, because people tend to do things for a few days, and then they forget. International Medical Corps management also supported us quickly, making sure PPE [personal protective equipment] was readily available on time.”

“There will always be outbreaks of measles or cholera or other infectious diseases in many African countries—it’s something we just need to get used to,” he says. “But the principles are the same, no matter the disease—you need dedication and you need to avoid panic. Go forward and respond to it, while respecting the protocols.”

Support from the GlobalGiving community of donors helps Dr. Abdou, and the rest of our dedicated team in South Sudan, combat disease, relieve suffering and save lives.

Dr. Abdou Preparing to see patients

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Sep 3, 2021
Finding Solace and New Skills in South Sudan

By Clara Long and Ryan Stafford | Communications Officers

Raising GBV awareness - Photo by Patrick Meinhardt

Violence against women and girls is endemic in South Sudan, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and chronic displacement. This is why gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response remains at the core of International Medical Corps’ assistance in the country. We tailor our programs to support and empower women and girls who are affected by and at risk of violence and other abuse, especially those facing conflict, disasters and displacement. Our approach addresses the root causes of violence and helps put communities on the right path toward gender equality.

Our team in South Sudan carry out a range of GBV programs including hosting awareness sessions and Women- and Girl-Friendly Spaces (WGFS) where our team organizes activities such as sewing, beading, literacy and math classes. In addition, we have been able to give some women modest grants to set up their own businesses, making them more independent—an important first step to breaking the cycle of poverty that leaves women and girls susceptible to perpetrators who prey on their vulnerability.

In Malakal, a small business grant helped Nyabach develop her food stall. “Before International Medical Corps came, I was cooking and selling mandazis [a type of fried bread]—but I wasn’t making any profits,” says Nyabach. “Now, thanks to the loan they provided, I was able to expand my business and add more to the menu, which allowed me to make a profit.”

Our team also supports women’s groups such as “Success,” a financial cooperative that enables participants to pool resources. Formed in 2019, each of its 26 members contribute 200 South Sudanese pounds per month, which can be withdrawn for personal projects and returned at a later date with a small amount of interest.

Our approach encourages men to be a part of the change. For example, Charles, a community leader, helps our team challenge and prevent GBV by mobilizing men in his community. “Domestic violence is a big problem in our community,” he explains. “It is important to involve men in gender-based violence activities because men are the perpetrators and need to be part of the solution.”

By hosting awareness sessions, our team works with community leaders to shed light on issues related to GBV prevention. “Domestic violence is a huge problem,” admits Batista. “Men drink too much and they beat their wives at home. Before, many men were not aware of GBV, but thanks to International Medical Corps, we can now talk to men and raise awareness in our community,” he explains. Working alongside our GBV team, community leaders like Charles and Batista use their standing to convey an essential message: there is no place for violence against women and girls in their communities.

Thanks to the continued support of the GlobalGiving community, our team in South Sudan is empowering women and mobilizing men to help eliminate gender-based violence.

Nyabach's food stall - Photo by Patrick Meinhardt

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