It was supposed to be a simple medical checkup for pregnant Abuk*.
But when the doctors discovered she was suffering from anemia, things became far from simple in a setting lacking adequate medical care.
After the medical facility in Lainya closed due to severe weather damage, two doctors remained as volunteers moving the little equipment that was left to a place that merely qualifies as a room, let alone medical facility. And yet, it is the only health care option available to surrounding communities.
“During rainy season, we actually take umbrellas to the clinic to not get more sick from the water coming through leaks in the building,” shares local women representative, Harriet Raba.
In cases that require more than basic medical assistance, patients are referred to facilities in Yei or Juba, posing another challenge – transportation.
With persistent financial crises affecting areas across the country, patients are now required to provide fuel money to use the ambulance. Often, this means family and community members spend hours or even days collecting funds when an emergency appears.
For Abuk*, there was not enough time. Despite her relatives’ best efforts, she passed away right after delivering her twins that are now heading to an orphanage, accompanied by dozens of other children with similar experiences.
According to local officials, about eight women succumb to pregnancy or delivery complications in Lainya each year. It’s an unbearable situation amidst security and economic challenges for both children and communities as Harriet, mother of three and late Abuk’s* best friend, describes:
“Despite our best efforts, I have lost my best friend to the unavailability of transportation. Life is already too tough to witness situations like this.”
In neighboring Wonduruba, the situation is similarly bleak. It previously had nine clinics, but destruction during the 2016 conflict has left more than 10,000 residents with only one available option, the Wonduruba Health Care Facility.
Here, former nurse and now facility administrator, Isaac Lupharis explains stories of pain and loss:
“We keep losing these women to circumstances that could be avoidable if we received support from the government. Every time it happens, my heart breaks a little. It’s not something you get used to.”
A few years ago, they were able to provide free health care to about 10 to 15 patients visiting the clinic every day. While the number hasn’t changed, treatment options have.
“Since our ambulance broke down, we have to send critical patients to Yei or Juba with busses or even motorbikes, further complicating any issues they might be facing,” explains Lupharis.
In a country where maternal mortality is already high in global comparison, delivering a healthy child has become a miracle for many.
“Seeing how much pregnant women in our communities struggle to access simple healthcare services, I couldn’t be more grateful for my children,” expresses Betty Sunday who is visiting the clinic with her son to check up on his malaria recovery.
Having lost her husband during a cattle raid attack a few years ago, the mother of four also had to witness her friend dying before giving birth earlier this year. Together with other women, she is now working on a proposal outlining effective solutions.
During a long-distance patrol by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the women were given a safe space to discuss and further refine their ideas before submitting them to their local and, later, national government.
According to Gladys Philip Yona Jambim, UNMISS Associate Gender Affairs Officer, the outreach event exposed both the challenges of the status quo as well as opportunities for improvement:
“The needs here are various, but priority needs are the provision of a dedicated ambulance for the clinics to transfer critical conditions to either Lainya or Yei, medicines, and vitamins for children who are already malnourished.”
As often, the communities’ hopes rest with those that are brave enough to expose challenges and thus foster their translation into meaningful change.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
