Hundreds protest in Akobo over lack of basic services

BOR – Hundreds of angry residents in Akobo County of South Sudan’s Jonglei State on Wednesday morning took to the streets of Akobo town to protest against lack of basic services such as food and medicine.

The demonstrators, who were carrying a sick person, marched through several streets of Akobo town, carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding immediate intervention from the state and national governments.

Local youth leader Gatluit Chol, one of the organizers of the demonstration, told Sudans Post that the lack of adequate healthcare has resulted in the tragic loss of nearly 30 lives in the past two weeks.

Gatluit highlighted the dire conditions at the local health facility, citing a severe shortage of essential medical supplies and a lack of electricity.

“There is no power in the hospital, and people dependent on oxygen are dying due to the lack of services. There are no medicines. In the last two weeks, 29 people have died,” Chol said during the protest.

He criticized the state government for failing to provide sufficient support to the hospital, even as international organizations prepare to take over its management.

“The community has been facing numerous challenges due to the absence of a partner to support the hospital. There is a shortage of medication, water, and essential medical equipment. The hospital is unable to admit patients and lacks the capacity to provide basic treatment, leading to the tragic loss of lives,” Chol explained.

He said protesters demand immediate government intervention and urged international organizations to provide urgent assistance.

“We urge the government of South Sudan, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, and Care International to take immediate action to address the critical health crisis in Akobo,” Chol emphasized. “The community is suffering, and we need urgent support.”

One protester who identified herself as Nyagak Peter said: “This is unacceptable. Our children are dying because there is no medicine, and we are starving because there is no food.

Another demonstrator, Martha Nyang, echoed her concerns, saying, “We are tired of empty promises. We want the government to take action now. People are suffering, and it feels like no one cares.”

When contacted by Sudans Post, Akobo County Commissioner, Puok Nyang, acknowledged the dire health situation and its impact on the community.

“Akobo County has not had any implementing partner for the last three months, and this has caused the Akobo community a lot of loss. There are no incentives for the health workers, and the county authorities are the ones providing fuel for the hospital,” he said.

The commissioner explained that the county’s main health facility lacks essential drugs and that local revenue has been redirected to support the hospital.

“We suspended all revenue sources, including airstrip taxes, river taxes, market taxes, and personal income taxes, to support the hospital. But that is still not enough,” Nyang said.

He called on the state and national governments to expedite efforts with partners to address the worsening health crisis.

For his part, Jonglei State Minister of Health, Monylual Ajak Deng, acknowledged the community’s frustrations and said the state government is working to resolve the issue.

“In July, the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] left the facility, and Save the Children was supposed to take over, but the community rejected Save the Children as the new implementing partner,” Monylual told Sudans Post in his office in Bor.

“We have since been working to find another partner, and Care South Sudan is now preparing to take over. It is just a matter of time before they assume operations at the facility,” he added.

Protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations if immediate action is not taken to alleviate their suffering.