Vice President for the Service Cluster Receives Minister of Health, Commends Her Efforts in Representing South Sudan Internationally

Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper

Her Excellency Josephine Lagu Yanga, Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan and Head of the Service Cluster, on Wednesday received National Minister of Health, Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial, where the two leaders discussed recent developments in the health sector and ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation in healthcare.

During the meeting, Minister Rial briefed the Vice President on her recent participation in the 75th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, held in Lusaka, Zambia, where she led South Sudan’s delegation. The Minister explained that the conference addressed a range of pressing health issues, including universal health coverage, cholera response, reproductive health, cervical cancer, as well as national preparedness and health budgeting.

Hon. Rial reaffirmed that South Sudan actively participated in both plenary and side sessions, emphasizing the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening primary healthcare and increasing domestic contributions to health financing.

She also highlighted the outcomes of bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of the conference, including engagements with officials from the Africa CDC, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, and the Zambian Minister of Health. She noted that these meetings have opened new avenues for cooperation in capacity building and human resource development within South Sudan’s health sector.

In a related update, Minister Rial informed the Vice President that she also led South Sudan’s delegation to Kampala, Uganda, on August 29, to participate in the IGAD Pandemic Preparedness Initiative. The event saw the distribution of critical tools, medical equipment, vehicles, and motorcycles aimed at strengthening emergency response capacities across the region. South Sudan is expected to receive its allocated share of this support soon.

The meeting also touched on preparations for South Sudan’s participation in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where the Ministry of Health will represent the country in global health discussions.

For her part, Vice President Josephine Lagu Yanga praised Minister Sarah Cleto for her dedication and tireless efforts in representing South Sudan on the international stage. She reaffirmed the government’s full support for initiatives aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing the well-being of the South Sudanese people.