WHO Reaches Over 1,100 People With Safeguarding Campaign Across South Sudan
The World Health Organization (WHO) and South Sudan’s Ministry of Health reached more than 1,100 people with safeguarding training and community awareness activities during the second quarter of 2026, strengthening efforts to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PRSEAH) in the country’s health sector.
The initiative comes as South Sudan continues to grapple with conflict, displacement, food insecurity, seasonal flooding and disease outbreaks that have heightened protection risks, particularly for women and girls. WHO said integrating safeguarding into humanitarian and public health responses remains critical to ensuring safe and accountable health services.
According to the quarterly PRSEAH report, WHO and the Ministry of Health carried out 21 activities nationwide, reaching 1,164 participants, including 128 WHO staff, 85 partner personnel, 346 Ministry of Health workers and 605 community members. The activities focused on strengthening awareness of safeguarding principles, promoting ethical conduct and improving access to reporting and referral mechanisms.
During the reporting period, WHO also conducted refresher training for 63 staff members in Juba and equipped 22 PRSEAH focal points with enhanced knowledge of safeguarding standards, coordination and compliance. Personnel deployed to emergency operations received mandatory briefings on WHO’s code of conduct and reporting responsibilities.
Safeguarding activities were integrated into emergency health programmes across several states, including Unity, Central Equatoria, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Jonglei, Warrap and Western Equatoria. Training covered topics such as prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, gender-based violence, ethical health service delivery, community accountability and safe reporting pathways.
In Unity State, WHO trained health workers, community leaders and schoolchildren on safeguarding principles and the “Do No Harm” approach. In Western Bahr el Ghazal, the agency supported training on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Standard Operating Procedures and the Victim Assistance Protocol for humanitarian organizations, police and community volunteers. Similar sessions were incorporated into cholera response, annual health planning and mpox preparedness activities in other states.
WHO said the programme has strengthened accountability and safeguarding across South Sudan’s health response by embedding PRSEAH principles into emergency preparedness, disease outbreak response and routine health programmes.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Ministry of Health and partners to uphold a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment while ensuring communities can safely access health services and report concerns through trusted mechanisms.
