Graduands displaying their certificates at the MSF Academy for Healthcare during the graduation ceremony held in Lankien of Nyirol County of Jonglei state on 13th March 2023 - Credit: Alicia Gonzalez/MSF

Over 80 nurses have graduated from MSF Academy for Healthcare Program in Nyirol County of Jonglei State after two-year clinical training.

The 88 medics are working at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) health facilities in Lankien of Nyirol.

According to MSF, the nurses were trained on 82 skills through five modules and 40 units on basic clinical nursing care.

They are expected to provide essential medical care to the local communities in the area.

Serviour Dombojena, the Country Representative for MSF Academy for Healthcare in South Sudan said the newly graduated medics will help MSF provide quality healthcare in Lankien and the surrounding areas.

“I congratulate the new group of graduates from Lankien. Their skills and role will be very crucial to help MSF provide quality care to the people of Lankien and surrounding areas,” Serviour Dombojena said during the graduation ceremony.

“MSF Academy was set up to strengthen the skills and capacities of project teams when it comes to the provision of quality healthcare,

“It is a two-year training program based on three pillars that are competency-based curriculums, workplace training, and clinical mentoring.”

Graduate Changkuoth Yoal who is one of the graduates says the skills he acquired will enable him to serve his community.

“Learning from the academy has made a great impact on me. I learned a lot of skills that I never practiced before,” Yoal said.

“In 2014, my mother was treated for Kala Azar at an MSF medical facility. Her recovery inspired me to become a medical professional and save lives of the people,

“This learning is a step towards achieving my dream of helping the community as a healthcare worker.”

Decades of conflict and underinvestment in healthcare in the country have resulted in severe shortages of health infrastructure and qualified doctors, nurses, and midwives.

The MSF Academy for Healthcare is a training initiative that aims at strengthening the skills and competencies of front-line healthcare workers.

In 2019, the agency initiated the program to build the capacity of healthcare workers across South Sudan including in the Abyei Administrative Area.

So far, they have trained health workers in Lankien and Old Fangak in Jonglei State, Maban and Malakal in Upper Nile State, Pibor, Maruwa, and Boma in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, and Agok in Abyei Special Administrative Area.