WHO expands safeguarding efforts amid Ebola preparedness in South Sudan
Credit : UNICEF South Sudan Ryeng
The World Health Organization strengthened efforts to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in South Sudan in July by integrating safeguarding measures into Ebola preparedness, health worker training and community health activities.
The WHO said 36 Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute personnel were trained on safeguarding during a Master Training of Trainers in Juba. The training focused on protecting beneficiaries and promoting ethical health service delivery during Ebola preparedness and response operations.
On July 29, WHO, in coordination with the PRSEAH Inter-Agency Network in South Sudan, piloted a new safeguarding module for Ebola preparedness and readiness. The pilot reached representatives from 89 Health Cluster partner organizations across the country.
The module combined practical guidance with a simulation exercise to help participants identify and address safeguarding risks in public health emergency operations.
In Western Equatoria state, WHO trained 43 State Ministry of Health personnel in Yambio during an annual operational planning workshop. It also incorporated safeguarding sessions into blood bank management training for 16 participants and trained 20 community volunteers involved in contact tracing.
In Northern Bahr El-Ghazal state, 44 participants in Aweil Centre County received safeguarding orientation during annual operational planning and blood bank management activities. In Western Bahr El-Ghazal, WHO trained 33 participants from partner organizations and the Ministry of Health in Wau County.
In Unity state, WHO trained 19 Ministry of Health personnel in Rubkona County and sensitized 339 community volunteers involved in a cholera vaccination campaign.
The sessions focused on safeguarding principles, standards of conduct, reporting and referral mechanisms, accountability and respectful engagement with communities.
WHO said insecurity in parts of South Sudan continues to restrict humanitarian access and increase the vulnerability of affected populations, raising the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse.
The agency also cited the rapid expansion of the workforce supporting Ebola preparedness and readiness as a safeguarding concern, particularly where personnel have limited knowledge of prevention measures and reporting mechanisms.
Underreporting remains another challenge because of stigma, fear of retaliation, cultural beliefs and limited awareness of available reporting and referral pathways.
WHO plans to conduct a field mission to Yambio County to monitor safeguarding activities and continue integrating prevention and response measures into emergency preparedness and response programs, including Ebola preparedness.
The agency also plans to maintain awareness campaigns, capacity-building, monitoring and community engagement to strengthen accountability and ethical health service delivery.
