Nurses and Midwives Association encourage professionals to embrace their work, as they call on government to improve welfare during international commemoration

By Makur Adut

The South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association in Rumbek, Lake State have urged the government to improve the nurses and midwives’ welfare and working conditions, saying this is essential for facilitating quality services.

The statement was delivered on Saturday, during the commemoration of the International Da of the Nurses and Midwives, under the theme: Our Nurses. Our Midwives. Our future: Strengthening Clinical Excellence and Institutional Capacity in Lakes State.

Speaking at the event, Hon. William Koji Kirjok, Lakes State Minister of Culture Youths and Sports  clarified on the role of the medical professionals, saying it is their duty to treat the sick, while the government is to ensure their welfare is taken care of and hospitals are adequately equipped with medical supplies and equipment.

“Everyone should commit to fulfilling their responsibilities. A patient will come to the hospital with various ailments. It can be someone with a serious gunshot wound. A parent with a very critically sick child or another with another dire medical condition. They will be coming for treatment and may not know what you are going through. They rely on your instant support. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that they are treated,” he said, calling on nurses and midwives to improve service delivery in the community.

On his part, Meen Santos, the Association’s chairperson in Lakes State, appreciated the nurses and midwives for their sacrifices to humanity, describing them as the frontline heroes.

“The commitment of a healthcare professional is not bound by a single date on the calendar, but by unshakable duty to humanity,” Meen said.

“The rescheduling of this celebration does not diminish the weight of your service rather, convening today in the form of academic and professional seminars allows us to transform celebration into concrete action. We are here not just to applaud past achievements, but to sharpen our skills, align our strategies, and fortify the future of healthcare delivery in South Sudan. As an association, SSNAMA Rumbek utilizes this forum to clearly articulate our position on the critical priorities facing our professions today,” he added.

According to Meen, South Sudan’s future relies directly on the survival of mothers and newborns and the nurses and midwives’ association stands firmly on the principle that expanding, equipping, and retaining qualified midwives is the single most cost-effective strategy to eliminate preventable maternal and neonatal mortality in our communities.

“We must provide standard support,” he stressed. “We advocate for robust institutional capacity building, reliable supply chains for essential medical inputs, and predictable, dignified compensation structures for our clinical staff and academic tutors who train the next generation.”

“I charge you to engage with these seminar presentations with a rigorous desire to learn, critique, and refine your practice. Maintain the highest ethical standards, command respect through your professionalism, and practice with both scientific precision and profound empathy,” he advised.

Martha Aping Dut, a registered midwife in Rumbek commended Rumbek Health Science Institute for its role in providing quality training to health professionals, saying health sector success relies heavily on quality training and education.

For her part, Loria Grace Julius, a nurse at Rumbek Health Science Institute urged all nurses to embrace their roles and support the health demands within the community. “Help the sick, paint smiles on the faces of the ailing. And make this profession more meaningful in society,” she said.