Gumbo, Juba, South Sudan, 31 August 2020 -- At the Don Bosco centre at Juba (South Sudan), where we have a school, a Vocational Training Centre (TVET), a Parish, a Refugee Camp for 15,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP), the Caritas Sisters of Jesus run a health centre that serves the beneficiaries of all our large work in Gumbo. Caritas (Charity) Sisters of Jesus are a member of the Salesian Family since 1986, the Japan born Sisters Congregation (1937) with almost 1000 members is witnessing the Gospel in 16 different countries in all five continents.

How was this health mission in South Sudan started?

St. Vincent De Paul parish, Gumbo was entrusted to the Salesians in 2006 and by 2008 the Salesians began to reside at Gumbo village. Gumbo is located at the centre of 20 villages within the radius of 20 kilometres along the left bank of river Nile while on the right bank is the town of Juba and other villages. There are no proper hospitals or clinics in any of these 20 villages. The nearest one is the hospital of Juba which is in the town. After the establishment of the Salesian parish it was felt that the health care for the people is very important and the we have to do something in this area. At the request of the Sudan Delegation Superior of Salesians of Don Bosco, Caritas Sisters of Jesus (CSJ) accepted to be part of this mission to help in the health sector. Hence, Don Bosco Primary Health Centre was established in 2012. The work started in three small rooms, attending about 30 people daily.

What are the Clinic's regular interventions?

What is the Mobile Clinic and other interventions?

What are the major challenges and sicknesses the Sisters encounter?

What is the impact of the current Covid19 pandemic?

At the clinic we had 3 days of workshop about the Covid-19 infection, prevention and control. Also there were follow-up seminars and training for our healthcare staff. It is made clear that the country is facing a big challenge to control the pandemic. There are only two laboratories in the whole country able to do the test; there is only one facility with limited bed to keep people in quarantine, four ventilators in the country. Most of the population can’t keep social distance because the numerous family members live in one or two rooms home and live on daily informal job for survival.

What are the challenges and dreams for the future in Gumbo?

With the support of generous people from our Salesian Mission offices, we provide essential medications to treat the sick and offer them at very low price and for the poor and IDP’s completely free. Yet, we are still facing serious challenges to have proper lab equipment’s, medicines, medicine store and electricity backup for cold chain medical supplies in our Health Care Centre in Gumbo, Juba.

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