South Sudan’s ministry of health has graduated a total of 103 students with diplomas in nursing and midwifery under its Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery in Juba on Wednesday.
The Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery had about seventy (70) students from its 7th batch of which 35 were for nursing and another 35 for midwifery courses. The Juba team was merged with another 33 midwifery 3rd bath students from the Kajo keji Institute of Health Sciences, bringing the total number of grandaunts to 103.
Speaking to the grandaunts in a ceremony at Juba Teaching Hospital, the Health Minister, Elizabeth Achuei reiterated her commitment to ensuring continuity of the health training programs across the states despite cuts of funding from the donor organizations due to the covid-19 Pandemic.
“I am aware that the program was hindered by the covid-19 for a period of six months. And it affected the training of health professionals. However, I will try my level best to ensure that there is a continuity of learning even if there is a Pandemic.” Said Elizabeth Achuei.
Meanwhile, the Swedish representative at the function who spoke on behalf of the partners that are funding the training, Mrs Jacqueline Bernhard pledged that Sweden would continue to fund the health sector in South Sudan.
“The lead of the Ministry of Health in South Sudan is crucial. Sweden will continue its work together in partnership with the Ministry of Health and its partners.” Jacqueline pledged.
Addressing the students during the same occasion, the Director of training at the Juba College for Nursing and Midwifery, Dr Janet Michael urged students to make use of the skills they acquired in the three-year-long diploma training.
“We will be witnessing the skills put into practice, and as you begin your career, we pray that you will commit yourselves to do what you have learned and to do it to the best of your knowledge.” Dr Janet Michael advised students.
She further urged the students to be advocates for changing harmful traditional practices such as child marriage in society.
Speaking on behalf of students during the graduation ceremony, Mr Bona Bol Riak called on the government through the ministry of health to upgrade the Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery.
“We are also requesting the institutions like Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery to be upgraded such that we can do our degrees here. As we shall be here, it will be very difficult that we will not be able to upgrade within the country unless someone who can afford to go and upgrade either in Kenya or in Uganda,” he urged.
The donor contract for supporting the training ended on Wednesday according to the minister of health.
The Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery is a project under the health ministry with support from the governments of Sweden and Canada.
