Yambio hospital maternity ward. (Photo: Courtesy).

Western Equatoria’s Minister of Health on Thursday downplayed “baseless” allegations that Yambio State Hospital has been closed.

On November 23, 2023, a caller on Eye Radio’s Dawn Program, who identified himself as King Kola said, he had gone to the state hospital with his expectant wife – when they found the facility was locked.

Kola said patients from the State Hospital are often referred to Nzara County – a far-flung area that Yambio residents find difficult to reach.

“As am talking now Yambio Hospital is closed, the patients of Yambio are transferred from Yambio to Nzara and it is expensive,” he told Eye Radio.

“An ordinary citizen cannot afford. I have never seen something like that a big hospital like Yambio closes. If the Ministry of Health is listening to my voice, let them do something, I took my wife there for delivery, but I found it close with padlock.”

In response, the State Health Minister James Abdallah dismissed the allegations.

He said there are people working in the facility, but only that the 2022 withdrawal of the Health Pooled Fund (HPF) has resulted in shortage of drugs and manpower.

But Abdallah said some aid agencies are currently supporting the maternity, surgical theater and pediatric sections.

“That information is a baseless information, because if you go now to the State hospital, you will see the people are working there,” he told Eye Radio.

“Withdrawal of HPF from the State Hospital 2022 resulted into the weakness of drug supply in the State Hospital and paying of the manpower but after the withdrawal of HPF, Amref has been already in the State Hospital supporting the maternity, theater, pediatrics and the work is going on okay.”

In April this year, the National Health Minister disclosed that medical workers deserted Yambio Civil Hospital over low and inadequate pay.

The hospital is among dozens of primary healthcare units in the country that were supported by the Health Pooled Fund.

In 2021, donor countries comprising some European Union member states scaled down funding, leaving most health facilities in shambles.

Since then, most primary healthcare units started experiencing shortfalls including the Yambio Civil Hospital.