The WHO and UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) provided 160 oxygen concentrators to South Sudan’s Ministry of Health to support the country in its COVID-19 response.
There is a severe shortage of medical oxygen in South Sudan. Bedside oxygen concentrators and the uninterrupted electricity supply required to run them are both scarce in South Sudan.
WHO, the Ministry of Health and partners have mapped out facilities that will be able to provide adequate isolation and treatment of COVID-19 infected patients and have the requisite power supplies to run the concentrators.
COVID-19 presents an overwhelming public health challenge to the already fragile healthcare system in South Sudan.
WHO and the Ministry of Health also organized refresher training for 30 trainers selected to cascade COVID-19 training to the states, focusing on new developments in the management of COVID-19 patients.
Participants were trained to use oxygen concentrators and carry out basic maintenance of the machines to enhance long term functionality beyond the COVID-19 pandemic response.
The 160 oxygen concentrators were procured as part of the national response thanks to a generous multilateral contribution by the Department for International Development (DFID) to WHO.