Doctors Union urges urgent appointment of health minister
The union emphasized that health as a critical service docket that should not be left without a designated leader, especially during this ongoing public health issues
By Lodu William and James Chatim
The South Sudan Doctors’ Union yesterday called on the government to appoint a new Minister of Health to strengthen the leadership vacuum.
The Union highlighted the critical nature of this leadership gap amidst ongoing health crises such as cholera and Mpox outbreaks.
Recently, President Salva Kiir issued several presidential decrees, which resulted in the dismissal and appointment of various officials. However, the positions of the national Minister of Health and Western Equatoria State’s governor, both associated with SPLM-IO, remain unfilled.
Dr. Zacharia Peter Ajak, the chairperson of the Union said the ministry of health was engaged in crucial work alongside its development partners to combat active cholera and Mpox outbreaks within the country, while also maintaining vigilance regarding Ebola outbreaks in neighboring Uganda.
“The absence of a minister of health creates a leadership vacuum that jeopardizes these crucial public health efforts and hinders the ministry’s ability to effectively respond to these challenges.”
Peter urged President Kiir to swiftly appoint a new minister who has a strong medical background.
“The SSDU believed that a leader with medical expertise is essential for making informed decisions regarding outbreak preparedness, response strategies and the overall management of the health sector. These decisions require a deep understanding of medical complexities and public health dynamics, which non-medical professionals may lack.”
The union emphasized that health as a critical service docket that should not be left without a designated leader, especially during this ongoing public health issues,” Peter added.
Also, he called on the stakeholders to prioritize the health of the nation and support the prompt appointment of a qualified minister of health.
Meanwhile, civil society activist and Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, has added his voice to the matter, arguing that the appointment of the minister of health could rescue the situation from the resurgence of the severity of cholera and reported cases of monkeypox.
He highlighted that South Sudan is currently facing some extremely fatal diseases which require urgent need for the minister of health to be appointed.
“I would like to appeal to the leadership of the country, in particular His Excellency President and His Excellency First Vice President with regards to the seat of the Minister of Health. We are aware that the Minister of Health has been relieved and the seat of the Minister up to now is vacant,” Yakani noted.
“While the country is facing huge medical issues that are related to diarrhea, monkey fox, and other diseases and the threat of Ebola from Uganda. I have been moving across the country right now as I’m speaking from Bor, citizens are facing huge medical issues. I would like to appeal to your leadership in the country that there’s a need to urgently appoint a Minister of Health,” he said.
