SOUTH SUDAN: MSF And Health Ministry Open New Neonatal Ward At Aweil Hospital

By Deborah Akur Chol, South Sudan

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has inaugurated a new 40-bed neonatal inpatient ward at Aweil State Hospital in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.

The announcement was made via a press release on Thursday.

“We are excited to announce a significant advancement in our commitment to enhance healthcare services for vulnerable populations in South Sudan,” the press release stated.

The new facility replaces the previous overcrowded ward, offering essential space and advanced medical equipment to provide better care for sick, premature, and low-birth-weight infants.

“The ward’s strategic proximity to the maternity unit will ease access for mothers wishing to breastfeed and engage in Kangaroo Mother Care both crucial for the health of newborns,” the statement added.

This upgraded ward is the only one of its kind in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, designed to create a safer, more comfortable environment for the most at-risk infants while improving monitoring capabilities and infection prevention measures.

Since 2008, MSF has been instrumental in supporting pediatric and maternity services at Aweil State Hospital, focusing on increasing access to quality healthcare for families. In 2024 alone, MSF facilitated the delivery of over 7,600 babies.