South Sudan gets new health facility at main airport

By Michael Tapeng

South Sudan has got a new health facility set with funding from the government of Japan and supported by the World Health Organisation.

The Port Health Facility handed over on Friday will ease the screening of travellers at the Juba International Airport.

Speaking to journalists during the handover of the facility at Juba International Airport, Dr. Victoria Anib, the Undersecretary at the South Sudan’s Ministry of Health said the facility will help in detecting international transmission of any diseases.

 “South Sudan is very proud today to have this facility to curb the international transmission of diseases and to help in not only covid-19 detection but also other diseases like yellow fever and other diseases that can be transmitted through travel and across the border,” Anib said.

“This port health facility is important because it helps in surveillance activities and helps with prevention of diseases and also protect global security as we are part of the global village.”

The Japanese ambassador to South Sudan, Tsutsumi Naohiro said the project will subsequently help save more lives through early detection of infections

“In order to respond to this global challenge, Japan started this project last year through WHO to prevent the cross border threat of covid-19 and other infections to save more lives,” Naohiro said.

“I would like to congratulate the people of South Sudan for this achievement.”

Dr. Fabian Ndenzako, WHO Country Representative in South Sudan said the Port Health Facility will serve in mitigating the risk of cross border diseases spread.

The facility has several units including screening, cold storage, power backup, yellow fever unit, holding area, data office, meeting room, and washrooms.

The South Sudan’s Ministry of Health says it is planning to put a similar port health facility at Nimule border to ease screening for travellers.