"Without these facilities we would have had to walk 8 hours through water to town to reach the nearest clinic," says Nyanriek James.
Each year, from June to October, heavy rainfall in Ulang, Nasir, and Maiwut triggers severe flooding, submerging entire villages and displacing entire communities. In villages such as Purbor, floodwaters have reached staggering depths of 10 feet, sweeping away homes and forcing people to seek refuge in isolated areas. Under these circumstances, our Mobile Medical Unit team members rely on boats and travel on foot to navigate through the floodwaters.
Mobile Medical Units provide a range of services, including treatment for communicable and non-communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive healthcare, immunizations, mental health services, nutrition support, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) services.
Providing health services in these conditions can be incredibly challenging. Dense water plants block the way, making it nearly impossible for boats to approach the riverbanks. When the teams finally reach their destination, setting up mobile medical units (MMUs) presents another challenge. The flooded ground makes pitching tents difficult, and the constant relocation of affected families means healthcare workers often wade through swamps to reach them.
“In flood-affected communities, we often face shortages of essential drugs, and there’s a lack of proper consultation spaces or privacy for patients. We’re forced to work in open areas, sometimes under trees. To maintain patient privacy during consultations and deliveries, we make do with plastic chairs,” Dr. Emmanuel, who conducts patient consultations, explains.
“Communication with the field office is difficult, as there’s no network in remote villages, making it hard to handle emergencies or referrals. In emergencies, one of our team members has to walk up to three hours to find a place with network coverage to call for help,” Dr. Emmanuel adds.
Despite the challenges, our dedicated teams push through, driven by an unshaken commitment to the communities they serve. In areas where permanent health facilities have been damaged or become inaccessible, mobile medical units have provided crucial healthcare to people who otherwise go without.
From May to August, MMUs conducted over 3,000 outpatient consultations, supported 88 women with pre-natal care, assisted in 111 safe deliveries, and provided post-natal care to 111 newborns.
“I am very happy that Relief International offers services in Purbor village and continues to support despite the floods. Our biggest concern as a community was the long distance to Ulang town for medical care, but since Relief International arrived, that issue has been solved,” says Nyanriek James, a member of a community affected by floods.
Our team in South Sudan is committed to bringing healthcare to communities wherever they are and whenever they need it. We are continually working to expand our reach to remote areas where access to healthcare remains a serious challenge.
Your support counts
Help us continue delivering life-saving care to communities affected by crisis