Work...

I’ve been travelling a lot, throughout western and central equatoria state… training health workers on how to improve the quality of services they provide. More specifically, to focus on infection prevention practices. This has been an eye-opener.

The level of knowledge of health workers is quite low. The lack of availability of infection prevention supplies – including chlorine used for decontaminating instruments is disturbing. The state of some of the facilities makes one wonder. There is so much work to be done in this country. In facilities that have been supported by NGOs for years… one wonders what we have been doing because there is not much change/improvement/impact. This is frustrating. Not to solely blame NGOs because we do have a ministry of health…how can we say we are here to improve the lives of people, when basic essential necessities in the health facilities are missing, and health-workers have not been trained – in any meaningful way- in years.  We do not have enough numbers of skilled health personnel; we do not have enough health facilities, enough drugs, equipment, etc.  There is never enough.

Other than the challenges of work, South Sudan is an amazingly beautiful country. Places like Kajo Keji, all rolling hills and green valleys, or Yambio- where you drive through immense forests of teak trees. The trees were in bloom last time I was there and it looked all snow covered with the white flower petals on trees. Sadly, there’s a teak factory in Nzara- im not sure how much longer the teak will be available. Deforestation. No one is sure where the proceeds go but I’m certain the communities do no benefit much. But right now, its still beautiful.

IT always amazes me how empty this country is. You drive out a few miles and all you see are a few goats and cows. Where are the people?