The South Sudan Doctors Association says the government must do much more to protect medical staff right across the country.

The call comes after a man entered Wau Teaching Hospital in Western Bahr Al-Ghazal State early this week and opened fire, killing one doctor and wounding two other medical staff.

Reports say the man was a soldier whose wife had died during childbirth.

Doctors Association chairman, Doctor Edward Eremugo, says the government can act at once by boosting hospital security.

“Putting in place a visibly strong police presence or even a military presence could help if that is possible… because when somebody comes at you with a gun, I think they should do what they can to protect you.”

Given the psychological impact of the war, there is no psychological counseling given to militants.

“There has to be a good proper program on post trauma counseling for our soldiers,” said Dr. Emerugo, “Even those who are still serving, they need to go through that, and I think that even the army need to have specialized trauma centers.”

Currently, South Sudan does not have a single psychiatrist.

Those suffering from post-war trauma are sometimes imprisoned.