(JUBA) – South Sudan’s health leaders have made a direct appeal for a sharp rise in government health spending, from less than two percent of the national budget to the 15 percent target set out in the Abuja Declaration. The call came during a high level annual review meeting in the capital, as the country works to reduce its heavy reliance on outside help and build a stronger, self sufficient medical system for its roughly 13 million citizens.
National Health Minister Hon. Luke Thompson Thoan convened the Annual Ministerial Advisory Board meeting together with the World Health Organization and the Health Sector Transformation Project. State health ministers, directors general and senior officials attended the one day session to examine gaps in service delivery and agree on a way forward.
The clear message from the states was that the current health budget, which sits at around 1.4 percent of national spending, is too small to meet even basic needs. They urged the national government to mobilise additional resources from both oil and non oil revenues to push the allocation towards 15 percent, a promise first made by African Union countries in Abuja more than two decades ago.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Minister Thoan acknowledged the financial pressures facing the country but said that responding to the needs of communities demands a joint push for greater domestic funding and government ownership of the health system. He suggested that a realistic near term goal should be to reach at least 7 percent of the national budget.
The WHO Representative in South Sudan, Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, told participants that delivering real change requires what he called a “business unusual” approach. He said that fresh ideas are needed across five key strategic areas and that lasting improvements in health will depend on close teamwork between national authorities, state governments and organisations like WHO.
Speaking on behalf of state participants, the Minister of Health for Jonglei State, Hon. Jehan Mechak Deng, said that stronger support from the national level is vital if states and counties are to deliver services properly. She pointed to reliable supplies of medicines and vaccines, enough trained health workers and better infrastructure as the main needs.
In a separate meeting the same week, Minister Thoan also told health officials to apply strict accountability and transparency in managing all health resources, especially grants provided by donors. He said that money must reach the people it is meant to help and deliver quality care.
This message was delivered during the same HSTP advisory meeting, which reviewed progress on the multi donor health initiative funded by the World Bank and a group of development partners. The project is managed by the Ministry of Health through its Project Management Unit, with UNICEF and WHO acting as managing organisations.
Beyond the budget discussions, the Ministry has moved forward with work to protect the country from disease outbreaks that can cross borders. The National Public Health Institute, together with the International Organisation for Migration, began a training programme at Juba International Airport focused on Ebola Virus Disease preparedness.
The sessions bring together staff working in port health and the One Health sector to improve skills in mapping health risks and mobility patterns. The training covers screening of arriving passengers, safe referral procedures, infection prevention and control, handling and transport of samples, and how to communicate risk and engage communities. Officials said that improving these skills at the main international gateway will make a significant contribution to national health security.
This practical work on disease surveillance follows a meeting between Minister Thoan and the United Nations Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Ramanathan Balakrishnan. Their talks covered the Health Sector Transformation Project, national readiness for possible Ebola outbreaks and support to the National Public Health Institute.
The Minister noted that South Sudan and the United Nations have worked together since the time of the independence struggle and called for the partnership to continue in a way that respects the country’s sovereignty and promotes constructive diplomatic engagement.
Mr. Balakrishnan said the UN remains committed to supporting the people and government of South Sudan, particularly in strengthening the health sector and advancing humanitarian assistance. The UN delegation included officials from WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, OCHA and IOM.