JUBA – The European Union (EU) has urged South Sudan’s warring parties to attain a peaceful settlement to the 12-month conflict so that the delivery of services to the population will be easier to accomplish.
The EU’s head of the delegation to South Sudan, Stefano De Leo, made the call while speaking during a national health consensus workshop organized by the ministry of health and World Health Organization held in Dembesh hotel in Juba.
“Peace is a better ground for stability. We want to see stakeholders coming together and we hope peace will come,” he told the participants at the workshop.
He said the EU supports the people of South Sudan in the health sector through a contribution of 11 million Euros to the health fund pool, together with other donor countries.
Stefano further said the fund finances health activities in the various states of the country to health build viable health services.
The EU head added that they also rely on the central and the state governments to allow medicine delivered to the grassroots in a timely fashion.
According to him, health, education is what contributes to the well being of the people of the country and needs to be checked.
World Health Organization country representative, Dr. Abdi Aden, said the strategic importance of strengthening health systems is absolute and that the Ministry of Health can count on the WHO for technical support.
He said the world has never possessed capabilities for curing disease and prolonged life as it does today, “Yet most health outcomes in most developing countries including ours are among the worst in the world.”
Aden said much of the ill health, disease, premature death and suffering that persists in South Sudan is needless, as effective and affordable interventions are available for prevention and treatment.
“The reality is straightforward. The health systems are too weak to deliver the interventions to those in greatest need in a comprehensive way and on an adequate scale.”
The country WHO representative said health systems that function well have shared characteristics as procurement and distribution systems that deliver interventions to those in need and staffing with sufficient health workers having skills and motivation.
Additionally, they operate with financing systems that are sustainable, inclusive and fair, and the costs of health care should not force impoverished households even deeper into poverty.
He added that the discussion on the draft national policy should set the stage for development of the health sector strategic plan, policy implementation guidelines, better alignment of structures among others goals for improved health system and effectiveness.
National Health Minister Dr. Riek Gai hailed the draft policy which he said will provide direction for the ministry and investment partners.
Gai said before the independence of South Sudan, the then government of Southern Sudan did not have a national policy of its own, calling the draft the first ever policy.
Sanctions
The European parliament last November expressed its regret over the ineffectiveness of the targeted sanctions imposed by the EU and called for the targeted sanctions imposition by IGAD, AU and the international community.
Stefano urged the warring parties–both the rebels and government–to give peace a chance.
Asked about sanctions to be imposed on those blocking peace, Australian ambassador to South Sudan Geoff Tooth said, “We want to do everything to help the peace process to reach a conclusion very quickly and fully support all those involved so that it is sustainable and long lasting.”
“Sanctions are something used elsewhere in the world. We do not have a position on that [with regards to South Sudan] and there is no consideration now by Australia.” he said.
By Peter Moi Julius