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Torit – Al-Wadi Newspaper
Nyong Primary Health Care Centre in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria State, is undergoing a quiet yet significant transformation, driven by community engagement and supported by strengthened health staffing.
The centre now serves approximately 20,000 residents and records between 1,000 and 2,000 consultations each month, reflecting renewed trust between the community and the health facility.
Before the launch of the Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP), the facility operated with only 13 staff members and a single midwife to meet the needs of expectant mothers. Today, the centre employs 23 health workers under HSTP support, including three midwives working in morning, evening, and night shifts, significantly improving maternal care services.
Obaldo Zacharia, the facility in-charge at Nyong PHCC, noted that these improvements have made a tangible difference in the community: “Under the previous Health Pooled Fund, we had only one midwife. With HSTP support, the number increased to three. Now we always have someone monitoring mothers’ cases, which has strengthened trust in the facility.”
Statistics reflect this growing confidence. The number of deliveries at the centre rose from 150 in 2024 to 232 in 2025, as more women chose to give birth at the health facility rather than at home.
Monday Ousman, a 25-year-old mother of two, currently six months pregnant with her third child, shared her experience: “I came for my routine antenatal care appointment, but I was ill. After tests, I was diagnosed with malaria and typhoid and received treatment. I feel much better now. When I arrived, I had to be carried, but now I can walk home.”
Observers note that the centre’s success is not only due to increased staffing but also the active work of the Community Health Committee, chaired by Clara Budi, who has held the position for two years. “Our task is to monitor the centre and identify the community’s needs,” she explained. “By raising issues with partners, we were able to address needs ranging from staff chairs to improvements in the water system.”
Budi emphasized the role of community awareness in increasing safe deliveries: “We meet with families and mothers who prefer to deliver at home and encourage them to come to the facility. Many now understand the importance of safe childbirth.”
However, she stressed the need for better protection of the facility, calling for a fence to secure the premises and safeguard its property.
Nyong PHCC’s progress reflects the broader impact of the Health Sector Transformation Project, which supports over 700 health facilities across South Sudan. The project is funded by an international consortium including the World Bank, Global Affairs Canada, the Global Fund, Gavi, the European Union, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
