MSF and Ministry of Health launch newly constructed neonatal ward at Aweil State Hospital
Seeking to improve access to medical care for sick, low birth weight, and
premature babies in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF) and South Sudan’s Ministry of Health on 4 June 2025 opened a newly-built 40-bed neonatal
inpatient ward at Aweil State Hospital.
The new structure replaces the former 33-bed neonatal ward, which was frequently
overcrowded with over 45 babies admitted at once and lacked enough room for critical care like
resuscitation.
“We had a neonatal ward, but it was always full or over its capacity,” says Denis Mbae, MSF
project coordinator for Aweil. “This new building, which is also closer to the maternity ward, will
limit the distance that mothers have to walk to breastfeed their babies, while holding better
equipment and amenities.”
The new ward has increased capacity and improved design, with necessary space for incubators
and life-support equipment to better support vulnerable infants whose vital organs may not be
fully developed. Mothers will also have dedicated space for Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC),
promoting skin-to-skin contact vital for low-birth-weight infants, which has proven to help
improve health outcomes of babies in this condition.
This specialized unit, the only one of its kind in the state, offers spacious environments designed
for infection prevention, improved monitoring, and better working conditions for staff. The
building will also provide a space for neonates under one roof, allowing for better follow-up and
monitoring.
MSF has supported Aweil State Hospital since 2008, providing paediatric and maternity services
in a region where many people face challenges accessing timely care due to limited peripheral
health services and difficulty in finding proper transportation. In 2024, MSF assisted in delivery
of 7,664 babies at Aweil State Hospital.
The upgrade reinforces MSF’s commitment to enhancing access to health care for better
outcomes for vulnerable families in South Sudan
