CURE, USRATUNA and Mission Aviation Fellowship Partner to Reach South Sudan’s Children in Need

 

In early May 2023, a team of 10 dedicated CURE Uganda co-workers embarked on a groundbreaking mission to conduct a pilot mobile clinic in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. This unique initiative aimed to assess the urgent needs of vulnerable children suffering from neurological conditions like hydrocephalus and/or spina bifida and provide them with essential medical care.

A Dire Lack of Healthcare for South Sudan’s Children

South Sudan, Africa’s newest nation following its independence in 2011, has been grappling with numerous healthcare challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country faces critical issues such as limited access to health services, a shortage of healthcare workers, inadequate infrastructure, and poor health indicators. Shockingly high maternal, infant, and child mortality rates– and a life expectancy of only 56.5 years–paint a grim picture of the healthcare landscape.

With a population of over 10.75 million, South Sudan’s healthcare system is burdened by years of conflict, underinvestment, and a lack of basic amenities, medical equipment, and essential supplies. The demand for healthcare professionals, including doctors and nurses, far surpasses the available resources.

 

 

Partnering to Provide Care for Children in Need

In response to these challenges, several non-government organizations, including USRATUNA Rehabilitation Center in Juba, Central Equatoria State, have stepped up to provide accessible healthcare services, mainly focusing on improving rehabilitation, health, and education for children with disabilities.

Matteo Ghini, the project coordinator at USRATUNA, shed light on the region’s dire situation regarding neurological care. “To my knowledge, there is currently no facility in South Sudan that offers surgical or neurological care,” he lamented. “That is why we have established a referral program in partnership with CURE Uganda specifically for cases of hydrocephalus and or spina bifida. Once patients are referred and treated at CURE, they can return home, and USRATUNA ensures their continued care, including medication and rehabilitation. However, sometimes traveling back to Uganda becomes unavoidable due to the complex nature of their conditions.”

The existing healthcare challenges intensify the difficulties faced by families seeking treatment for their sick children. “Here in South Sudan, the number of children with hydrocephalus is alarmingly high, and there is still a significant need for awareness among the population,” added Ghini, highlighting the delay parents and caretakers experience in seeking medical attention for their sick children.

CURE Uganda Team Provides Medical Care and the Hope of Christ

During the eight-hour clinic held in Juba, the medical team provided care for a total of 43 patients, with eight of them being referred to CURE Uganda for surgical intervention. Additionally, they took the opportunity to share the gospel with 22 individuals, resulting in 12 of them deciding to receive Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Dr. Isaac Ddamulira, a doctor at CURE Uganda, expressed his astonishment at the overwhelming response. “Based on the numbers we have seen, it exceeds our expectations, indicating that there are likely many more patients who have yet to benefit from a clinic like this,” he revealed. Dr. Isaac emphasized the urgent need for more clinics in South Sudan, as he encountered several previous patients who had yet to return to CURE Uganda for follow-up care. “Most of the patients I assessed during this clinic required immediate surgical intervention,” he stressed.

Expressing gratitude for the collaboration between Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and CURE, Dr. Isaac acknowledged their pivotal role in making the clinic possible. “Without the support of MAF, it is uncertain whether this clinic would have taken place,” he acknowledged. He pondered the potential outcomes for these children if organizations like MAF and CURE were not facilitating these essential flights and clinics.

The mobile clinic held in Juba brought to light several critical cases that required urgent attention, catching parents off guard with the severity of their children’s conditions. Dr. Isaac expressed his concerns, saying, “It is possible that without this clinic, these children could have had a severe disability, worsening quality of life, and, in the worst-case scenario, death. The impact on their families would have been immeasurable, causing immense grief and misery.” 

 

 

Despite the challenging circumstances, there was an undeniable sense of joy and relief among the parents and caregivers. They were finally freed from the burden of enduring long, grinding journeys to a foreign country with their sick children. One mother shared her experience, explaining how her child’s hydrocephalus was detected before birth. Following the referral to USRATUNA, her baby underwent a life-changing procedure at CURE Uganda. Reflecting on their journey, she said, “Life was complicated in those initial months, but now we are witnessing significant improvements. Our baby can smile and turn on her own, and the size of her head has noticeably reduced. We have newfound hope for her future, regardless of the challenges she may face.”

 

 

While medical professionals attended to patients during the clinic, Pastor Fred Wangwa, the Spiritual Director at CURE Uganda, provided spiritual support to those waiting in line. Pastor Wangwa shared the message of peace with God, drawing inspiration from the book of Romans 5. He encouraged individuals to seek peace with God, bringing harmony with themselves and others.

Witnessing the impact of this collaborative effort, it became evident that God’s work was unfolding through these mobile clinics. CURE Uganda and its dedicated staff left a lasting mark on people’s lives, not only in terms of medical and physical healing but also spiritually.

 

 

Dr. Ddamulira concluded, “The invaluable partnership between MAF and CURE has made a tremendous difference in the lives of these vulnerable children and their families. We cannot underestimate the profound impact of their support. The question arises: What would the story of these children be if MAF and CURE were not piloting these flights and organizing these clinics?”

As the mobile clinic ended, the team departed Juba with a renewed sense of purpose, vowing to continue their mission to provide much-needed medical care to underserved communities. Generous support from partners like you make it possible for CURE to go to these hard-to-reach places and bring hope for children in need.