JUBA — Inside the busy maternity ward of Wau Teaching Hospital of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, a quiet transformation is underway.
Midwives are acquiring advanced, lifesaving skills to better manage obstetric complications and care for vulnerable mothers and newborns—offering renewed hope in a region where many women still give birth without skilled assistance and maternal deaths remain a serious concern.
Adim Deng Deng, a midwife trained at Wau Teaching Hospital, noted that he gained skills in Basic Management of Obstetric Complications (BMOC) and Comprehensive Management of Obstetric Complications (CMOC).
“We are also trained in assisting vaginal deliveries, where, if the baby’s head is coming during the second stage of labor, we use a vacuum cup,” Deng explained to journalists on Thursday.
“You place it on the baby’s head and then pull the baby out. That is something we achieved from the training.”
He stated that the skills he acquired provided him with updated knowledge in antenatal care, safe delivery practices, newborn resuscitation, and postnatal support.
“It has given us new insights into patient care, especially for the pregnant mothers we care for. It has updated our unit care practices in the field.”
Deng mentioned that they can now handle complications during pregnancy and childbirth more effectively.
Deng stated that they deliver about 20 babies per day at Wau Teaching Hospital.
He also mentioned that during the training held in July 2025, there were a total of 16 participants, comprising 4 females and 12 males.
The Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP) has provided training for over 40 midwives and medical doctors in comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology skills.
The two-week capacity-building training took place between 2024 and July 2025 in Wau, organized by the Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development (CORDAID) in collaboration with UNICEF.
Funded by the World Bank, the UK, the EU, and Canada, the project is implemented by CORDAID in partnership with UNICEF.
HSTP supports 26 health facilities in Jur River County, Wau County, and Raja County, with the aim of enhancing access to basic health and nutrition services for host communities, returnees, and refugees from Sudan.
Joyce James Ambrose, another midwife trained at Wau Teaching Hospital, shared that they often face challenges when managing complicated deliveries.
“We used to receive them here. Based on the knowledge I have gained, we help during delivery, postnatal care, and even home visits.”
With these new skills, she indicated that they can assist in childbirth, manage obstetric emergencies, and provide immediate care for newborns.
Angelina Johnson, a 16-year-old mother who delivered a day prior, praised the midwives at the facility for their exceptional service.
“The reception at the hospital was warm. I was treated with such care. I’m just full of joy,” Johnson said.
She also commended the maternity section for its hygiene, which provides a clean and safe environment for newborns.
Wau Teaching Hospital (WTH) is a 250-bed facility located in Wau Town Municipality, serving as the primary referral hospital for the Greater Bahr El Ghazal region.
It is supported by CORDAID through the Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP) and serves a catchment population of approximately 900,000.
The hospital employs 400 staff members, 206 of whom are funded by HSTP.
Services provided include maternal and newborn care, pediatric services, emergency surgery, nutrition, laboratory services, HIV/TB management, outpatient consultations, and referral care.
On average, the hospital receives about 20,000 outpatient visits monthly, primarily for malaria, diarrhea, and acute respiratory tract infections (ARI), as well as 4,000 antenatal care (ANC) visits.
Additionally, the hospital facilitates 250 skilled birth attendances, conducts 60 emergency surgeries, and manages outpatient treatment admissions and stabilization center admissions.
Dr. Bulus Lawrence Ndenge, Hospital Director of Wau Teaching Hospital, stated that the total number of deliveries at the hospital each month ranges from 120 to 170, including births, caesarean sections, and normal deliveries.
“Wau Teaching Hospital has been working here to serve the entire community of the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region,” said Lawrence.
He noted that the training has contributed to addressing the high maternal mortality rate in the state, where many women continue to give birth outside health facilities without skilled attendants.
He emphasized that untrained midwives struggle to recognize the risks or complications associated with pregnancy.
“The training of the midwives has reduced complications that occur during labor here in the hospital,” Lawrence stated.
Amb. David Ashley, the UK ambassador to South Sudan, announced that this year the UK has allocated $26 million to support the South Sudan health sector through the Health Systems Transformation Project (HSTP).
“We are proud to help ensure that mothers and children who come here, as well as the wider population, receive essential health services,” Ashley said.
Joanne Minns, Ambassador of Canada to South Sudan, remarked that most nurses and midwives in the country have been trained with Canadian funds.
“Canada has contributed $70 million to the HSTP, alongside a long-term investment in the training and capacity building of nurses and midwives in South Sudan,” Minns stated.
Noala Skinner, the UNICEF country representative to South Sudan, said, “We are truly grateful for the continued unwavering support from our donor partners, which enables us to meet some of the needs of the children of South Sudan.”
