Professor Repent Khamis teaching midwifery and nursing first year students during an anatomy and physiology class at Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery (JCONAM). Juba South Sudan
Medicine student Ocan Walter, at the library of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Juba Teaching Hospital. Juba south Sudan
Abraham Koang 29, from Jonglei State (left), Alier John Thon, 25 from Jonglei State (center), and Hellen Iadayo, 32 from Central Equatoria (left) during an anatomy and physiology class, on the first year of midwifery and nursing at the Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery (JCONAM). Juba South Sudan
Tindilo Grace Losio, the Principal of Kajo Keji College of Nursing and Midwifery during a class with the Kaji Keji students evacuated to Juba Teaching Hospital. Juba south Sudan
Medicine students at the library of the Juba College of Physicians and Surgeons at Juba Teaching Hospital. Juba south Sudan
The Dean of the Juba College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Frederik Khamis among students at the Juba Teaching Hospital. Juba south Sudan
MIDWIVES: BRINGING HEALTH SERVICES CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE
Bruno Feder
Photographer
based in Lisbon
Text by Sam Mednick
Probably the most remarkable achievement by the project to date is being able to increase the number of qualified midwives in South Sudan from less than 10 in 2011 to more than 400 by the end of 2016. A number of them are now working in hospitals and health centers across the country. Some have furthered their education to get Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees and one midwife even became an obstetrician-gynecologist. “For 60 years we had less than 10 trained midwives,” says Health Minister Riek Gai Kok. With the midwifery project, the number has grown to more than 400 in less than five years.
Remarkable achievement
Probably the most remarkable achievement by the project to date is being able to increase the number of qualified midwives in South Sudan from less than 10 in 2011 to more than 400 by the end of 2016. A number of them are now working in hospitals and health centers across the country. Some have furthered their education to get Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees and one midwife even became an obstetrician-gynecologist. “For 60 years we had less than 10 trained midwives,” says Health Minister Riek Gai Kok. With the midwifery project, the number has grown to more than 400 in less than five years.
Medicine student Ocan Walter, at the library of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Juba Teaching Hospital. Juba south Sudan
Medicine students at the library of the Juba College of Physicians and Surgeons at Juba Teaching Hospital. Juba south Sudan
The importance of continuing education
As the SMS Project progresses, it gives special focus on mainstreaming gender equality and empowerment. The project also touches on areas of support to improve maternal health. For example, as part of the emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC) service, doctors are engaging associate clinicians in task shifting for maternal health. This is done by training health workers referred to as Clinical Officers on emergency surgeries and caesarean section deliveries. “We realized that if you take people to do apprenticeships and give them practical training on tasks that focus on addressing maternal mortality, it can make a big difference,” says Dr. Frederik Khamis, Dean of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Juba.
Tindilo Grace Losio, the Principal of Kajo Keji College of Nursing and Midwifery during a class with the Kaji Keji students evacuated to Juba Teaching Hospital due to conflict.
The Dean of the Juba College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Frederik Khamis among students at the Juba Teaching Hospital. Juba south Sudan
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MIDWIVES: BRINGING HEALTH SERVICES CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE
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