On Thursday, the UK Development Director in South Sudan, Seb Fouquet, called for increased government investment in the health sector following a visit to health facilities in Juba supported through the Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP).
Fouquet visited several facilities supported under the HSTP, a programme funded by the UK alongside other development partners to strengthen healthcare services and improve access to essential care for communities.
During the visit, the UK official praised frontline health workers for their dedication and commitment to serving patients despite difficult working conditions.
He highlighted the important role of health workers who continue to provide essential services to communities every day, with support from Health Link and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Fouquet noted that the HSTP forms part of its wider support to South Sudan’s health sector, alongside emergency response activities and disease preparedness initiatives.
The programmes are intended to help strengthen the country’s ability to respond to health emergencies while improving the delivery of essential healthcare services.
However, Fouquet stressed that external assistance alone cannot provide a long-term solution to the challenges facing South Sudan’s health system.
He appealed for significantly increased government investment in healthcare to ensure services can be maintained and expanded across the country.
The UK also identified timely payment of health workers as a key priority, saying reliable salaries are essential to maintaining a motivated and effective health workforce.
Access to essential medicines was another major concern raised during the visit, with the UK stressing the need for dependable supplies to ensure health facilities can provide uninterrupted care.
The UK Development Director further said building a resilient and sustainable health system will require stronger government ownership and investment, alongside continued support from development partners.
Fouquet’s visit comes as South Sudan continues to face major challenges in delivering quality healthcare, particularly amid limited resources and pressure on health facilities.
He reaffirmed UK’s commitment to working with South Sudanese authorities and partners to support quality healthcare and strengthen emergency preparedness.