The National Legislative Assembly

The Transitional legislature has approved a loan of $12 million from Kuwait to build a maternal hospital in Juba.

They say the acquisition of the loan was delayed since 2013 due to the conflict in the country.

Hon Cornelius Awan, chairperson for the Committee of Health and HIV, told Eye Radio that the construction of the maternal hospital could begin soon if the Kuwaiti government reconsiders the arrangements.

“It’s not South Sudan that only applied for this fund but all African countries. So we are left behind and so we want to hurry up such that we try to reduce this burden of maternal mortality rate which is high in our country,” Hon Awan said.

“The funds will be controlled by the Kuwaiti government, because there are terms and conditions connected with it.”

Mr Awan said the money can fund the construction of a big hospital with a capacity of 120 beds.

He also said that Jubek Sate government has already allocated the land for the health facility in Gurei and will be built by foreign contractors.