Juba, February 28, 2019 (SSNA) — The Republic of South Sudan will receive $105.4 million US dollars to help strengthen its national healthcare system, the World Bank announced on Wednesday.
The bank says its Board of Executive Directors approved the money because it wants to improve access to mental health treatments for the people of South Sudan. The bank also blames the ongoing civil war for health problems in the country.
“Years of conflict have had a devastating effect on South Sudan, eroded the already scarce physical and social infrastructure, leaving millions of South Sudanese without proper access to vital health services. The country’s low health indicators highlight the importance and urgency of investing in health and overall human development outcomes in the country,” World Bank’s country manager in South Sudan,” Sahr Kpundeh, said.
The banks explained in a statement that the $105.4 million dollars project will be run in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The bank praises the two humanitarian and developmental agencies for their expertise.
South Sudan has some of the worst health indicators in the world. Child mortality and morbidity rates are high, child malnutrition is severe, maternal mortality is among the highest in the world and endemic diseases present a heavy burden to the already stretched health care system, according to the World Bank.
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The world bank should first focus on peace implementation instead of offering large sum of money for healthcare which doesn’t cover all the people in country. Some people in rebel control areas are not getting healthcare services because humanitarian agencies are restricted by government forces.