WHO presence in South Sudan

The WHO Representative’s Office in South Sudan supports the Government and health authorities at central and local level in strengthening health services, addressing public health issues and supporting and promoting research for health.  
 
Physicians, public health specialists, scientists, social scientists and epidemiologists provide appropriate technical support and collaboration upon the request or acceptance of national authorities. 
 
As the lead health agency, WHO works with many partners to support countries in reaching their national health development goals and to ensure that its efforts are coordinated. Across the Region, these include United Nations agencies, humanitarian and development partners, donors, nongovernmental organizations, WHO collaborating centres and the private sector.

South Sudan became WHO’s newest and youngest member state after its independence on 9 July 2011. At the national level, WHO provides technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in all issues related to health and development, with the main goal of improving the health status of the people of South Sudan.

The South Sudan country office’s objectives are to:

trengthen the stewardship function of the Ministry of Health, focusing on their capacity to regulate and monitor the health sector, and define the working framework for nongovernmental organizations and the private sector

support the completion, dissemination and implementation of national health policies, strategies, guidelines and legislation at the national, state and county level

provide technical support for pharmaceutical supply and drug quality control, including building capacity for the implementation of good manufacturing practice

enhance evidence-based decision-making processes through emphasis on health system research and the building of a robust national health management information system.

WHO works to reduce mortality, morbidity and disability, and to improve health, especially of vulnerable populations. This aim is achieved with other partners through building national capacities in policy formulation, strategic planning and management and training across all public health interventions, focusing on strengthening and building a resilient health system, in addition to providing humanitarian assistance and support during emergency and recovery.

WHO works in partnership with the Government of South Sudan, United Nations agencies, nongovernmental organizations and other relevant health and development agencies and plays a crucial role in coordinating the inputs of all these partners with reference to health sector action. This partnership supports national efforts for achieving better health for the population through focusing on key areas of work.

WHO takes lead of the health sector through coordination, identification of gaps, planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting on behalf of the health cluster as mandated at global level.

WHO’s main priorities in South Sudan are to:

ensure adequate and timely response to health hazards through coordination with all partners

address inequality in the delivery of priority health services across the country by targeting the most underserved areas and filling service gaps

support the recovery of the health sector by strengthening health services, while sustaining the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Health and increasing financial resources.

In view of the critical health condition in South Sudan, and to provide timely and more effective assistance, WHO has strengthened its field offices in all ten states in South Sudan: Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr El Ghazal and Western Equatoria.