Minister of Health South Sudan Flags Off Health Pooled Fund Consignment 11 Distribution
One of the major challenges facing post conflict South Sudan is the delivery of health care to the population, especially reaching women, children and vulnerable groups. These challenges are further exacerbated for some communities due to inadequate qualified health professionals, long distances to be covered to get to hospitals and sometimes lack of essential medicines and drugs to treat common illnesses.
To remedy this, HPF has partnered with the Ministry of Health in South Sudan to ensure that critical and essential health services are offered in all HPF supported facilities.
One of HPF’s outputs is the availability of safe, effective and quality essential medicines and supplies for communities in South Sudan. Additionally, HPF is working with the MoH to ensure that there are stable health systems that enhance accountability and are responsive to the needs of South Sudanese communities.
Speaking during the flagging off of HPF’s 11th distribution (Consignment 11/C11), the Minister of Health Hon Elizabeth Achuei said that the partnership between HPF and MoH was ensuring that lives are saved especially during the Covid19 pandemic period.
“This distribution is so vital to so many communities who need medical attention and drugs. Covid19 has brought many services to a halt, but HPF has ensured that essential health services are still running in the facilities. These medicines are keeping our people alive and we are grateful to you (HPF) and the donors”
The Department for International Development (DFID) Deputy Country Director Ros Cooper also reiterated the need for better collaboration and synergies between the donors, HPF and the MoH.
“As donors, we are working together to ensure that we support the people of South Sudan and ensure that they have access to healthcare and vital medicines. Consignment 11 is more than 432 tonnes of medicines that will go to over 800 health facilities supported by HPF”, said Cooper.
The vital role played by the MoH was lauded by Alessandro Rossi who is the Deputy Head of Mission for European Union delegation in South Sudan.
“MoH has been a vital cog in making sure that we are able to operate and get clearances for the medicines which had to be transported from Mombasa Kenya to Juba. We all must work together so as to benefit the people of South Sudan who need us the most” stated Rossi.
Since October 2012, Health Pooled Fund has had 10 drug distributions. HPF does 3 distributions of essential drugs and medicines to hospitals and health facilities in South Sudan annually.
In 2019, 1,278 tonnes of essential medicines were delivered in three consignments, containing 72 essential drugs and supplies. The majority of these drugs were distributed in kit form to all 55 county health departments and HPF-supported hospitals.
HPF distribution Manager Alex Jones further explained that this was a special distribution considering the Covid19 restrictions across states. “We have 432 tonnes of medicines in 27,810 boxes to be moved out. We have planned to use 48 Air lifts and eight Road moves so that we effectively deliver all the medicines. If everything goes to plan, we should complete C11 distribution in four weeks”, he said.
About Health Pooled Fund.
HPF is a programme funded by the British Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), the Government of Canada, the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance and the European Union (EU). HPF is delivered in partnership with the Government of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health and is transforming the lives of millions of people in South Sudan by providing access to quality basic health services.
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