Juba Teaching Hospital is the main public health facility in South Sudan. It is reported to have inadequate power supply and lacks doctors and nurses after many quit due to little pay and poor working conditions | Credit | File photo

The Ministry of Health has directed Nile Petroleum Company to supply fuel to Juba Teaching Hospital, which has been without electricity for a month now.

Officials there say they have not been able to buy fuel due to the rise in prices, from 6 to 22 pounds per liter.

The increase in fuel prices followed the devaluation of the pound.

Last week, the Director General at the Juba Teaching Hospital, Dr John Chol said they would stop receiving dead bodies at the mortuary due to lack of electricity.

But this morning, Dr Chol told Eye Radio that the hospital is expecting fuel within the next two days.

“Hopefully today or tomorrow, we should be able to get the hospital electricity back,” he told Eye Radio.

Last week, there were media reports that up to ten people, including premature babies, died at the hospital due to lack of power.

But Dr Chol denied this, saying there was electricity at some selected wards, such as maternity, to handle emergency issues.