Category: HEALTH

South Sudan ambassador to Kuwait dies

South Sudan ambassador to Kuwait Parmena Makuet Manar Riak [Photo via al-Jarida]

South Sudan ambassador to Kuwait Parmena Makuet Manar Riak [Photo via al-Jarida]

KUWAIT – South Sudan’s ambassador to Kuwait, Parmena Makuet Manar Riak, has passed away today at dawn after short illness, according to a foreign ministry official.

The foreign ministry official who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity said Manar died in Kuwait following short illness caused by high-blood pressure and diabetes.

The official although hinted at COVID-19, the official ruled out the possibility.

“This is to confirm that Ambassador Parmena Makuet Manar Riak, our country’s representative to the state of Kuwait has died,” the official said. “We cannot rule out COVID-19, but what I have as of now is that he has been sick with high blood pressure and diabetes.”

Manar was the first South Sudan ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt.

He was appointed the head the country’s diplomatic mission in the North African country following the independence of South Sudan in 2011.

Before he was moved to Kuwait, he was South Sudan’s ambassador to Nigeria.

He was later on recalled and then redeployed to Kuwait.     

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India to offer more scholarships to South Sudanese students – envoy 

Indian ambassador to South Sudan Shri S.D. Moorthy addressing a function in Juba [Photo by Indian embassy website]

Indian ambassador to South Sudan Shri S.D. Moorthy addressing a function in Juba [Photo by Indian embassy website]

JUBA – The government of India has pledged to provide more educational opportunities for South Sudanese students, according to its ambassador to Juba, Shri S.D. Moorthy.

The Indian envoy made the revelation during a meeting with South Sudan’s minister of presidential affairs Nhial Deng Nhial in Juba on Tuesday.

“The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Nhial Deng Nhial met with the Indian Ambassador to South Sudan, Shri S.D. Moorthy,” the Presidency said in a brief state on Twitter on Tuesday.

In a statement to the media following the meeting, Ambassador Moorthy said his country is ready to provide more study opportunities and is planning to build a health facility in Juba.

“India will provide more scholarship opportunities to South Sudanese students to study in India, and build a health facility in Juba,” the Indian envoy said.

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Woman commit suicide in Yei over family dispute with husband – Yei police chief

The tree were the woman hanged herself [Photo by Awan Achiek/Sudans Post]

The tree were the woman hanged herself [Photo by Awan Achiek/Sudans Post]

YEI – A 27-year-old woman identified as Nancy Monday has committed suicide by hanging herself to death in Yei River County, according to the Police.

Yei River County Police Commissioner, Major General Lojang Kamba, said that the deceased committed suicide over a family dispute with her husband.

The Police Commissioner revealed that Nancy Monday has three children, two from a different man outside married.

Gen. Kamba said the husband was brought to Police State immediately after the incident and the investigation are on-going.

He said the body of late Nancy has been taken to the family for burial and after the burial, they will come to Police to resolve the issue.

Kamba said that the husband is still in Police custody because of the relatives of his wife finds him outside, they might kill him.

He advises the Women Groups to organize talk shows over the radio to create awareness against committing suicide.

He also advises married women who are having family problems to come to Police State and open up a case rather than committing suicide.

In August, a similar incident happened in Yei, where 4 years old year child committed suicide while they were playing at home.

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Vice-president Hussein Abdelbaggi flown to Nairobi over high-blood pressure, heart disease

South Sudan’s Vice President, and chairman of the National Committee on Covid-19, Hussein Abdelbaggi [Photo by Sudans Post]

South Sudan’s Vice President, and chairman of the National Committee on Covid-19, Hussein Abdelbaggi [Photo by Sudans Post]

JUBA – South Sudan vice-president Hussein Abdelbaggi has been flown to the Kenyan capital Nairobi after suffering from a heart diseases complicated by high blood pressure, according to a media official at the presidency.

“General Hussein Abdelbaggi has surprisingly became sick. He has now been taken to Nairobi, Kenya because of that sickness and he is receiving medication and every will hopefully be OK,” the official said.

The media official who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity this morning however did not mention what Abdelbaggi was suffering from, and only referred to his sickness as short.

“It is a short illness that will go away in the next few days. He also chose to go to Nairobi because he has relative and family members that he would like to see as well. So, I can said it is a short illness,” he said.

Another source in Juba said the vice-president was flown to Kenya because he has a heart disease that has been with him for a long time. He said in 2020, Abdelbaggi traveled to Kenya three times in secret trips.

Hussein has previously been infected by COVID-19, the sickness that is associated with the novel coronavirus which has killed dozens of senior government and military officials in the world’s youngest country.

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SPLM-IO diplomat comes to aid of former Sudanese army instructor living under inhuman conditions in Khartoum

Former Sudanese army sergeant James Dingnyang Hoth, center, SPLM-IO ambassador to Egypt Gatkuoth Biel Nyang, left, and Sudanese army Brigadier in Khartoum [Photo courtesy]

Former Sudanese army sergeant James Dingnyang Hoth, center, SPLM-IO ambassador to Egypt Gatkuoth Biel Nyang, left, and Sudanese army Brigadier in Khartoum [Photo courtesy]

KHARTOUM – A senior SPLM-IO diplomat has come to the aid of a former instructor for the Sudanese army who was facing uncertain future at a street in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, the Sudans Post has learned.

Former Sudanese army Sergeant James Dingnyang Hoth’s life was at a crossroad when a “Good Samaritan,” the SPLM-IO ambassador to Egypt Gatkuoth Biel Nyang, found him on a Khartoum street during a rainy weather at a deplorable living conditions.

Dingnyang who is known to his former colleagues at the military college in Khartoum as James Daniel, joined the Sudanese army in the 1980s and left the service fourteen years later in the year 2000.

Since then, Dingnyang who never has his pensions remained in Khartoum and shifted to selling books at Comboni ground for many years until he encountered a paralysis in his left hand and leg due to poor living conditions.

In July, 10 days before the Adha Muslim feast, Amb. Gatkuoth came across a man suffering from paralysis and as the floods was about to struck Khartoum, the SPLM-IO diplomat decided to accord him an hotel room and took him to a hospital the following day.

“I am thank to God that he send him my way,” Dingnyang told Sudans Post in an exclusive interview with Sudans Post. “I am not sure of what would have happened to me but I thank God that I am to my normal life now though I remain concerned.”

Ambassador Gatkuoth said following a slight recovery, he decided to take him to the military college in Khartoum where he previously worked as a instructor. He said he was then welcomed by his former students currently with high ranks in the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF).

Dingnyang in a hospital with Gatkuoth Biel Nyang [Photo courtesy]

Dingnyang in a hospital with Gatkuoth Biel Nyang [Photo courtesy]

“Because of the situation that he is in, he still need help. I took him to the military college where he worked as instructor. He then met many of his former students who are high-ranking officers in the SAF now and he was welcomed,” Gatkuoth said.

The man in now living at a hotel room with Gatkuoth in Central Khartoum as he recovers from the paralysis in his hand and leg.

Dingnyang hails from Unity state’s Rubkona county and none of his family members contacted by Gatkuoth have shown up.

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Government reopens schools, orders return to work

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

JUBA – South Sudan government has ordered the immediate reopening of schools, Universities and other higher institutes of learning, according to the information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei.

In March, the government ordered the closure of all schools and the reduction of employee in different sectors after the outbreak of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has killed several senior government officials.

Speaking to reporters on Friday following a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir, Makuei said the government has resolved to reopen schools and also directed for the resumption of work in all sectors in the country.

“The cabinet has decided that all the higher institutes of learning should resume and should be reopened. As to went, this will be determined by the ministers of higher education and general education but schools should be reopened,” Makuei told reporters.

“The work should resume as usual from now onward, that is from next Monday because it is already Friday. We work should resume from on Monday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. This is very important because there is need for us to work because if we don’t work out economy will continue going down and collapse,” the senior government official said.

Makuei further warned against absence from work saying:  “So work will resume next week for all of us and there is nothing for someone to say that ‘I am sick’ if you are sick, come to the office with a medical report.”

“Some of the people have exploited the issue of COVID-19 and have gone silence for long and go for self-quarantine. There is no self-quarantine anymore.”

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BREAKING: South Sudan army officer claims ex-army chief died of poison

South Sudan former Chief of Defense Force (CDF) General James Ajongo Mawut who died in Egypt in April 2018, speaking to journalists at Bilpam before his demise [Photo via Getty Imaes]

South Sudan former Chief of Defense Force (CDF) General James Ajongo Mawut who died in Egypt in April 2018, speaking to journalists at Bilpam before his demise [Photo via Getty Images]

JUBA – South Sudan’s former army chief General James Ajongo Mawut was poisoned shortly before his surprise demise in the Egyptian capital Cairo in 2018, a senior army officer who says he has direct knowledge into an internal investigation has said.

General Mawut who died during an intensive medical care in Egypt on April 20 had taken over the role of South Sudan Chief of Defense Force (CDF) a year earlier after General Paul Malong, now a rebel-leader, was put under house arrest following speculations that he was planning to remove Kiir.

General Mawut had fallen sick a week earlier when his surprise death was first announced by a spokesman for President Salva Kiir on social media.

The government and the army never released, afterword, any medical report regarding the cause of the demise of a most important person in the military.

In an email to Sudans Post this afternoon, a senior SSPDF officer at Bilpam said President Salva Kiir had formed an investigation committee on May 1, 2020 following General Ajongo’s death on April 20. That committee, the army officer said, was headed by the Presidential Advisor on Military Affairs General Daniel Awet Akot and was never announced.

He said the committee which has never been announced found a year later that the former army chief was poisoned.

“On May 1, 2018, President Salva Kiir Mayardit who is also the commander in chief of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force established an investigative committee headed by his military advisor, General Daniel Awet Akot,” the army officer who requested not to be named said in the email to Sudans Post.

“That committee which remained secret and unannounced found on July 30th 2019  that the former defense chief was murdered by a poison. That report which is in the office of the President now has not been made public, but it did not mentioned the individuals responsible,” the officer wrote in the email.

The circumstances under which the former army chief fall sick remains unclear. However, several senior army officers  have been hospitalized for poisoning the past.

Then acting army chief and Mawut’s deputy General Gabriel Jok Riak was flown out of the country and was hospitalized at a Nairobi hospital reportedly of poison just less than a week following Mawut’s death.

General Jok later on recovered an returned to the country ahead of his confirmation by the president as the new army chief to succeed General Ajongo Mawut.

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Gov’t accuses UN mission of illegally issuing COVID-19-free test certificates

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

JUBA – South Sudan government has accused the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of illegally issuing fake COVID-19-free test certificates after the government said last week that some individuals were issuing unauthorized certificates at Juba airport.

The National High-level Taskforce on COVID-19 said in a communication dated August 26, but released this afternoon that it has evidence to support “allegation that UNMISS was issuing COVID-19 free test certificates to their staff parallel to the Public Health Laboratory.”

The communication seen by Sudans Post said the UN mission’s action contradicts the agreement between the government’s ministry of health and the peace mission on the issuance of COVID-19 certificates and ordered for the  withdrawal of COVID-19 certificates issuance authority from UNMISS.

“This act contravenes the agreement between UNMISS and the Ministry of Health. Henceforth, the Public Health Laboratory is urged to withdraw the authority from UNMISS with immediate effect,” it said.

The communication however said it still permits staffs of the “UN and all humanitarian organizations to move freely without any restrictions once already in the country with the view that they have undergone mandatory fourteen days self-isolation to allow them respond to emergencies.”

It further directed the Secretary of the Taskforce to “equally respond to UNMISS concerning their request but should be mindful of COVID-19 free test certificate and fourteen days quarantine to that effect.”

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Gov’t accedes to Melut protesters’ demands

Some of the protesters meet local leaders on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020. Courtesy [Photo via Eye Radio]

Some of the protesters meet local leaders on Tuesday, August 25th, 2020. Courtesy [Photo via Eye Radio]

JUBA – The uprising by the victims of oil pollution, corruption and neglect in the Melut region of South Sudan has produced a breakthrough.

On August 29, 2020, representatives of the victims (the Greater Melut Civil Society Organization) and the government (ministry of petroleum – MoP) signed a memorandum of understanding.

The MOU accedes to the key demands placed by the victims, who had been demonstrating for them for a week in huge numbers in and around the local oil fields, which are operated by Dar Operating Petroleum Company (DPOC).

Commitments made by the government include:

The provision of clean water – via the step-by-step extension by DPOC of the network of pipes.

The expediting by MoP of the audit and assessment of the environment that had been promised for the beginning of the year – and the sharing of the reports issued each month on the ailments treated at the local hospital – including lead and other forms of oil-caused poisoning.

Revenue sharing – communities to get 3% of oil revenues – to be paid out monthly

The replacement of allegedly corrupt and inefficient providers of health services with local, trustworthy ones.

Employment – affirmative action for locals

Education and scholarships – stepping up the funding supplied by DPOC to local districts and students

Roads – the repairing by DPOC of unusable thoroughfares and the furthering of their paving

“This could be a huge breakthrough – should the government live up to its commitments,” states Joseph Oduha, the highly-regarded journalist. “It has, unfortunately, a track record of making promises – and then not living up to them once the heat is off.”

“The government does know two important things. Until it makes the problems go away – especially the lack of water fit to drink and use – the victims of oil pollution and corruption aren’t going to stand down,” adds Oduha.

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WHO says COVID-19 could be over in two years

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) speaks at a press conference at the UN Office in Geneva [Photo by WHO]

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) speaks at a press conference at the UN Office in Geneva [Photo by WHO]

GENEVA – The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that he hopes the coronavirus pandemic will be over in under two years’ time.

Tedros who was speaking in Geneva said the Spanish flu of 1918 had taken two years to overcome.

But he added that current advances in technology could enable the world to halt the virus “in a shorter time”.

“Of course with more connectiveness, the virus has a better chance of spreading,” he said.

“But at the same time, we have also the technology to stop it, and the knowledge to stop it,” he noted, stressing the importance of “national unity, global solidarity”.

The flu of 1918 killed at least 50 million people.

Coronavirus has so far killed almost 800,000 people and infected nearly 23 million.

Dr Tedros also responded to a question about corruption relating to personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, which he described as “criminal”.

“Any type of corruption is unacceptable,” he answered.

“However, corruption related to PPE… for me it’s actually murder. Because if health workers work without PPE, we’re risking their lives. And that also risks the lives of the people they serve.”

Although the question related to allegations of corruption in South Africa, a number of countries have faced similar issues.

On Friday, protests were held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi over alleged graft during the pandemic, while doctors from a number of the city’s public hospitals went on strike over unpaid wages and a lack of protective equipment.

The same day, the head of the WHO’s health emergencies programme warned the scale of the coronavirus outbreak in Mexico was “clearly under-recognised”.

Dr Mike Ryan said the equivalent of around three people per 100,000 were being tested in Mexico, compared with about 150 per 100,000 people in the US.

Mexico has the third highest number of deaths in the world, with almost 60,000 fatalities recorded since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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