Warrap State Minister Of Health Summoned For Questioning Before The State's Members Of Parliament

Warrap State Health Minister
Hon. Abak Yel

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Warrap State Lawmakers summoned the State Minister Of Health on Monday for questioning. But she didn't give the Members Of Parliament convincing answers, the state Mps said. 

The Health Minister Hon. Abuk Yel was asked to answer questions in regards to the management of Health Ministry Affairs, Poor Heath Conditions and  why hospitals consultation fees have been increased. 

Hon. Alek Deng who is also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee For Health while speaking to the media said that, the answers provided by the health minister were not satisfactory. 

"The health condition is bad. Our people are dying in hospitals, especially at Kuajok Main Hospital. There is no electricity and drugs, and this condition is worsening in the counties," Alek Deng said.

Hon. Alek Deng further explained that, the main reasons to why the Health Sector is worsening is because of poor management. 

"Another problem with the minister is her relations with staff. She has been changing senior staff with juniors like the director general,  a medical doctor, who has been replaced with a clinical officer. The same thing happened with the director for administration and finance," Alek Deng said.

Alek Deng further said, decision will be made in the next sitting and if the Parliamentarians will not be convinced of the Health Minister response then drastic measures will be taken. 

"We had summoned the minister since 7th March 2023, but due to the president's visit, we pushed the sitting to today (Monday), so the legislators will discuss her answers, and she will be summoned again. She has a second chance to appear before the parliament.” Alek Deng said.

In her defense Warrap State Health Minister Hon. Abuk Yel said that, the Hospitals are in "shambles" because of the withdrawal of the Health Pooled Fund "HPF" from Warrap State and the allocation of small money to manage the health department. 

"The state ministry of health has been surviving on donors. And after Health Pooled Fund (HPF) pulled out in 2022, it created a vacuum that has affected the ministry in terms of human resources and provision of essential drugs to health facilities," Abuk Yel said.

“The doctors in the hospital during the time of HPF were receiving $1,200, and nurses were receiving $ 600 compared to now, which is SSP 12,000 and SSP 8,000 for doctors and nurses, respectively. This has discouraged the employees and most of them left the hospital to look for high-paying jobs elsewhere,” Abuk Yel added.

She said that, Health Pooled Fund use to supply the State with Essential Medicines and low budget from the National Government has affected her department. 

“I have good working relations with the staff and the changes happened according to labour procedures and staff performances. The governor knows the change of the director general and other senior staff.” Abuk Yel concluded.

The Health Pooled Fund, now in its third phase (HPF3), is the largest health care programme in South Sudan, delivering services in eight out of the ten states. 

South Sudan, is one of the most challenging countries in the world for a child. Poor access to health services , a limited number of health workers and lack of access to health services have produced some of the worst health indicators in the world, with a child mortality rate of 78 deaths per 1,000 live births.