Minister of Health, Yolanda Awel Deng. (Photo: Malual Atem/Eye Radio).

The Minister of Health Yolanda Awel Deng on Friday told donors and health partners in South Sudan to work in accordance with the National Health System or leave the country.

Yolanda made the remarks during the inauguration of the first ever mortuary at Wau Teaching Hospital on Friday.

This was reportedly in response to allegations that some donors and health partners are reluctant to implement initiatives recommended by the government but would rather do what they please with their money.

Minister Yolanda advised donors and Non-Governmental Organizations investing in the health system in South Sudan to follow the country’s health principle or leave the country.

Addressing health workers during the inauguration of the mortuary, the minister emphasized on coordination and mutual working relationship between the government and its partners.

“All of us are contributing equally to coordinating, harmonization and alignment of the national health strategic plan, now am calling all the donors and NGOs to sing that tune,” she said.

“If you are not willing to follow the government policy in regard to health sector, please get out of this country, you don’t belong here.”

“We don’t have a spare part of this nation, this is our nation, when we leave in it, the generation to come will leave in it and we need to fix it,” she said further.

The health minister said the country’s health system is not meeting the required standard and has been unable to respond to multiple crisis due to undeveloped and underequipped facilities.

“We inherited a system that was not well established, a system that was destroyed, a system that not strengthened, so that when we have got a little shock like Covid 19 or the flooding or the draught or the current up surge of returnees, my health care system cannot withhold.”

“…. because the system is very weak and how can we fix the system, it is all of us in these areas to fix it by working together,” said the minister.

On his part, WBGs Minister of Health Dr. Vincent Taban complained to the national health minister about the dire shortage of drug consignment to Wau Teaching Hospital.

“The major problem at Wau teaching hospital is about shortage of medical or drugs supplies. It is not coming on regular and when they come, these are not drugs, they come in consumable,” said Taban.

“If you go to the county and payam levels, there are some primary health cares that are lacking complete essential medication. So, if we you are a government, what we do on the health authority, this is a challenge for all of us.”