Shortage of medical staff and drug supplies cripples Nimule hospital

JUBA – A critical shortage of medical staff and essential drug supplies is crippling the healthcare delivery system at Nimule Hospital in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, according to a health official.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Wednesday, Dr. David Nyuma Sylvester, Director of Nimule Hospital, stated that understaffing has severely impacted the quality of healthcare services.

Existing staff face excessive workloads, leading to significant strain throughout the hospital.

“The existing system for providing drugs and other medical supplies is also problematic,” Dr. Nyuma said. “The Ministry of Health operates on a ‘push system,’ meaning they determine what supplies to send us, regardless of our actual needs.”

He explained that the hospital frequently struggles with drug shortages due to delays in deliveries from the Ministry of Health.

“The Ministry decides what to send based on their own assumptions, which may not align with our specific requirements,” he said. “For example, we might need more preventative medication for ongoing conditions, but we receive insufficient quantities and run out before the next shipment arrives.”

The official said that the hospital lacks dedicated offices for doctors and nurses.

“Infrastructure is another major challenge,” Dr. Nyuma said. “This hospital was established during the war by partner organizations who constructed wards and offices for patient management. However, there have been no significant improvements since then.”

He described the ward layout as outdated and impractical.

“The wards are essentially large, open halls. There’s no dedicated space for doctors or nurses to conduct private consultations or perform other essential tasks. This lack of privacy significantly hinders effective patient care,” Dr. Nyuma emphasized.

Nimule Hospital’s history dates back to the early 1970s, beginning as a small clinic and later expanding to a full-fledged hospital in 1983. With 170 beds, it serves both the Nimule border community and South Sudanese residents residing in the Adjumani refugee camp across the border in Uganda.