The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered key medical supplies to Al Sabbah Children Hospital, South Sudan’s only specialist hospital for children, to help meet the growing demand for care. Every month, about 1,000 children arrive at the hospital’s stabilization center, many suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The hospital relies on the support of partners like WHO to provide vital equipment, as its staff of just over 100 health workers strives to care for these young patients, according to a WHO report.
Al Sabbah also acts as a training site for health students from public and private institutions. The hospital’s acting Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Elias, called WHO’s assistance a “godsend” for both medical staff and families facing shortages in beds and medical supplies.
On July 21, WHO handed over essential items including pediatric beds, mattresses, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, and severe acute malnutrition kits. These were funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
Nutritionist Betty Achan, who has worked at the hospital for over ten years, welcomed the new beds, saying, “It is heartbreaking to turn families away because we have nowhere to place their sick children. This support brings much-needed relief, but the demand remains high.”
South Sudan faces many health challenges, with diseases like malaria, pneumonia, sepsis, and acute watery diarrhea causing a high number of child deaths. Mortality rates at Al Sabbah’s stabilization center ranged from 14% to 19% in early 2025. WHO’s support aims to strengthen the hospital’s capacity to save more young lives.
Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative in South Sudan, emphasized the commitment: “These supplies reach children, mothers, and the staff working around the clock. Our goal is a future where every child in South Sudan not only survives but can thrive.”
