The national Minister of Health Elizabeth Achuei has disagreed with the Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi on proposed managerial changes at the Juba Teach Hospital (JTH) in an astonishing standoff.
On Sunday last week, Abdelbagi ordered the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health to commission the reviewing and restructuring of the management of the country’s main referral hospital.
In a letter dated 10/10/2021 and addressed to the Undersecretary Dr. Victoria Anib Majur, the Vice President also directed that the “conduct of necessary changes in the Management of the Juba Teaching Hospital that may assist in finding an amicable solution to the ongoing crisis at that institution”.
In the same statement obtained by The City Review, Abdelbagi said Victoria should ensure the cleansing of “mess” created by some doctors.
“Address the persistent issue of Doctors’ Mess and ensure that the right doctors working at the Juba Teaching Hospital are accommodated,” part of the document partly read.
“Look after the new occupants of the Doctors’ Mess in terms of their welfare,” it added, further stating that the Anib should “Report back to the Cluster with the next 72 hours’ ultimatum”.
Undersecretary complied
A document from the Undersecretary’s office reveals that Anib complied with the Vice President’s order by reassigning Director Generals and Directors at the Ministry of Health.
Those reassigned were Dr. Alier Nyok, Director General for Medical Services, Dr. Thuou Loi, Director-General for Training and Professional Development, and Dr. Michael Samuel Mading, Director-General for Policy and Planning.
Others were Ms. Janet Michael, Director-General for Reproductive Health, Dr. Frederick Khamis Tawad, Director-General for Juba Teaching Hospital, Dr. Garang Dakjur, Deputy Director-General for Juba Teaching, and Dr. Brian Madison, Director for Training and Professional Development.
Reassignments canceled
However, on Friday, the Minister of Health Acuei revoked the reassignments of the staff through a Ministerial Order No 22/2021.
“In exercise of powers conferred upon me under 114(2)(c) and Article 31 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 (as amended), read together with the Republican Decree 222/2021, I, Hon. Elizabeth Achuei Yol, the Minister for Health, do hereby issue this Ministerial Order,” read the decree in part.
“Cancellation of all appointments, reassignments, and transfer of Directors and Directors General at the Ministry of Health and the Juba Teaching Hospital as per orders and letter dated 10th 2021,” it added.
Achuei said, “This includes, by extension, all subsequent appointments, decisions, and directives made by the Undersecretary without prior consultation with the Minister”.
The managerial standoff comes a myriad of challenges riddle the Juba Teaching Hospital including health workers going on strike over poor staff welfare catapulted by delayed salaries.