Improving health care for moms and babies at Yambio State Hospital, South Sudan

Project timeline: November 2015 to June 2017

Funders: Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada

Situation: Conflict, humanitarian emergencies have led to collapse of health care system

Years of conflict and humanitarian emergencies have eroded South Sudan’s health care system, creating a chronic public health crisis.

Western Equatoria State has been particularly hard hit and women and children in the region have been among the most affected by the lack of adequate health care:

  • On average, 16 women die unnecessarily every day in South Sudan from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
  • South Sudan’s maternal mortality rate is among the highest in the world at 2,054 deaths per 100,000 live births. (South Sudan Household Health Survey, 2006) The maternal mortality rate in Western Equatoria State is even higher at 2,327 deaths per 100,000 live births (SSHS, 2006) (Canada’s is 12).
  • South Sudan’s under-5 child mortality rate is also high at 106 deaths per 1,000 live births (SSHS, 2010). In Western Equatoria State, the rate is higher at 192 deaths per 1,000 live births (SSHS, 2010) (Canada’s is 4.7)

Action: Improving the delivery of life-saving health care to moms and babies at Yambio State Hospital

Amref Health Africa worked with the Western Equatoria State Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and other partners to ensure more mothers and their babies have access to essential health care services in the region through Yambio State Hospital.

The project focused on three vital areas:

  • Improving the delivery of essential health services to mothers, pregnant women, newborn babies and children under the age of five
  • Improving the delivery of essential health services at Primary Health Care Centres in Yambio County
  • Creating a stronger environment to enable sustainable health care services at Yambio State Hospital, with a focus on mother and child health.

Results

The project contributed to reducing the high rate of maternal and child mortality in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan:

  • Reached more than 38,000 people directly with essential health care, most of them pregnant women and children under the age of five, and another 150,000 people benefitted indirectly
  • Trained front line health care workers on emergency care for complicated deliveries, pre- and post-natal care, and immunization
  • Supported six primary health care facilities in the surrounding area (primary care is the first point of contact with the health care system)
  • Reduced the number of days that health facilities ran out of essential drugs and services.

Partners

Government of South Sudan
Western Equatoria State Ministry of Health
Yambio County Health Department

Project at a Glance

Situation

Years of conflict and humanitarian emergencies have eroded South Sudan’s health care system, creating a chronic public health crisis.

Action

Worked with the Western Equatoria State Ministry of Health and other partners to ensure more mothers and their babies have access to essential health care services in the region through Yambio State Hospital.

Project Results

Reached more than 38,000 people directly with essential health care, most of them pregnant women and children under the age of five, and another 150,000 people indirectly.

Trained front line health care workers on emergency care for complicated deliveries, pre- and post-natal care, and immunization.

Supported six primary health care facilities in the surrounding area.

Reduced the number of days that health facilities ran out of essential drugs and services.