By Jacob Bol  

Hundreds of residents in Akobo on Wednesday took to the street to protest against ‘drug shortages at the area’s main hospital.’

The residents demanded that the government supply drugs to Akobo Hospital as well as pay the salaries of the medical staff.

Speaking to The City Review, Puok Nyang, the Commissioner of Akobo of Jonglei State confirmed the demonstration in the county.

He said Akobo Hospital has not received any drugs for the last three months, “The challenges facing the hospital include the lack of fuel for the generator to help the patients and also the staff were not paid their incentives.”

He confirmed that it was the county authority that had been supporting the hospital for the last three months.

“There are no drugs and the staff are so vulnerable because they don’t have the incentive to support their families and their welfare and these have caused a lot of death of patients at the hospital,” he said.

Nyang reiterated that the protestors are calling on the national government, UNICEF, and CARE International and appealing to the partners who have been supporting the hospital to sit down and sort out the problems.

 “This has been a difficult situation for the community of Akobo and the authorities,” he lamented.

“We sustain the little power at the hospital by collecting the taxes from any source such as the airstrip, market taxes, river transport taxes, and PIT from anyone who is earning incentive at the county level.”

Nyang urged the Ministry of Health to put pressure on implementing partners to provide drugs to the gfacility.

 The hospital has been providing services to over 300 people, according to the commissioner.