Yambio State Hospital | Credit | Charles Wote/Eye Radio

Authorities in Western Equatoria state say local health facilities are in a bad situation after the Health-Pool Fund withdrew its funding this year.

The Health Pooled Fund (HPF) which was the largest donor-funding mechanism for healthcare in South Sudan had withdrawn the funding in April this year.

It withheld the finance to provide basic primary and some secondary healthcare including the payment for local healthcare workers, supply of drugs and medical kits as well as technical assistance.

As a result, James Abdallah, the Minister of Health in Western Equatoria said the decline in funding has affected major health facilities in the area.

“On 30^th of September, World Vision plus HPF have already handed over Yambio Hospital to the Ministry of Health and currently still we don’t have fund to facilitate to get fuel and equipment for the generator this all the challenges that we faced,” he said.

Abdullah said the handing over of the hospital to the government led to drastic shortages of medicines, fuel, and non-payment of incentives for health workers.

“Even this morning I was with the acting medical director and because of the inadequate fund in the health administration yesterday there was no light in the hospital,” he stated.

“And if there are any emergency cases like Hernia or delivery it will be very difficult for doctors to operate especially during night hours.”

James Abdullah described the conditions as miserable the health facilities especially in Maridi, Lui and Tambura areas.

“When the partner are around they support with the little incentives that they have, why I mentioned the case of Maridi, Lui and Tambura even if you now and see the situation of health facilities in Maridi hospital you will regret because in the payroll their names are not there.”

“The budget for the hospitals are not there, I asked the state government and its said this is the responsibility of the national minister of health in Juba to budget and send money for staff.”

For her part, Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, the Undersecretary in the National Health Ministry admitted that the gap left by the departure of health donors.

Dr. Anib says there are difficulties in filling the gap left by health donors.

“The running cost and incentives for healthcare workers will be really affected and that is a big challenge for us in the health sectors.”

The Health Pooled Fund, the largest health care program in South Sudan, was delivering services in eight out of the ten states.

It was a multi-donor program led by the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office), with contributions from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Others are; the Canadian Government; the Government of Sweden; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the European Union (EU).

The program supported nearly 8,000 health workers in 797 public health facilities, providing training and incentives, as well as technical assistance.

It also supported 25 hospitals, 195 Primary Health Care Centers and 577 Primary Health Care Units