HPF delivers final shipment of medicine to 7 states in South Sudan

JUBA – The Health Pooled Fund (HPF), a multi-donor program, fulfilled its commitment by dispatching the final batch of essential medicines for distribution across South Sudan.

This shipment, comprising over 90 different types of medications, will reach 512 facilities in seven of the country’s ten states and administrative areas.

Supported by donors like the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Sweden, and the Global Alliance for Vaccines, the HPF has been instrumental in improving access to healthcare in South Sudan.

The final delivery was witnessed by officials from the national health ministry, British Ambassador Guy Warrington, Swedish Embassy Head Hilding Lundkvist, and Canadian Chargé d’Affaires Michael Rymek during a warehouse tour.

Highlighting the critical need for the program, a statement seen by Sudans Post on Thursday acknowledged South Sudan’s healthcare challenges.

““South Sudan has some of the poorest health indicators in the world, such as one of the highest maternal mortality rates, low life expectancy, and poor access to health services,” it said.

The statement further emphasized that the delivered medicines will “deliver lifesaving services to thousands of women and children to prevent deaths.”

The statement also addressed existing healthcare limitations: “The country suffers from limited supply of drugs and equipment, acute shortages in the health workforce, inadequate health infrastructure and poor health service utilization,” it said.

“Measles and yellow fever, among other infectious diseases, are endemic in many areas and preventable diseases such as malaria and acute respiratory infections are common,” it added.

Recognizing the need for continued support, a new multi-donor project, the Health Sector Transformation Project, was launched in Juba last month. Funded by USAID, WHO, UNICEF, Canada, the EU, UK, Global Fund, and GAVI, this three-year initiative aims to build upon the HPF’s legacy.

Since its inception in 2012, the HPF has supported over 500 health facilities by training health workers and providing essential medicines.

It has delivered approximately 10,000 tonnes of medications and supplies across the country, facilitating over 21,700,000 medical consultations for children under five between 2012 and 2022.

The average number of health facility visits per year also saw a significant increase, from 1,087 in 2011 to 3,574 in 2023.

Furthermore, the HPF program successfully vaccinated over 2,100,000 children under one year against preventable diseases.

This final shipment marks a significant milestone in the HPF’s journey, leaving behind a lasting impact on South Sudan’s healthcare landscape.

As the Health Sector Transformation Project takes the baton, the hope is that the country continues to progress towards improved healthcare access and better health outcomes for its citizens.