Celebrating African Motherhood - Amref

very few health centres and heath workers, many people go to traditional
healers when they fall ill. There is a lot of ignorance. People come to hospital
only when their conditions are at an advanced stage”
As the queue of patients begins to taper in the early afternoon, Kuol heads
for the Gynaecology Ward, which hosts sick pregnant women. At the door
of the ward, a woman who is clearly in pain is being brought in by a group
of worried relatives. Kuol directs them to a bed behind a screen and quickly
dons a pair of gloves to examine her. He orders laboratory tests. “The most
common reasons for admission here are malaria, pelvic infl ammatory
diseases, urinary tract infections, bleeding, abortions, and abdominal pain,
mostly caused by sexually transmitted infections. Sick mothers who are
over fi ve months pregnant are admitted in the maternity ward.”
“Women and children suff er most from lack of health care,” observes Kuol.
“Although there are very few of us, I will do my best for everyone that I treat.
I spent years protecting my country in the war. Now I want Southern Sudan
to benefi t from the health training that I got from AMREF.”
Margaret Ayen, 29
Margaret Ayen, 29, is a clerk with the Ministry of Roads and Transport. Her
six-month old baby has been admitted at the Juba Military Hospital. The
paediatric ‘ward’ has been hived off a section of the general ward, as there
is no space in the hospital for a separate room for children.
“We have been here for three days. We live at the Shilak Military Barrack
because my husband works for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. This
is the second time my baby has fallen ill. Last month, she had fever and
diarrhoea, and she was vomiting. I took her to a private clinic in Jebel Kujur,
near our home, but she fell sick again a few days ago. They gave her some
medicine, but I did not see any improvement. She still had a fever, so I
brought her here.
I have been told that she has malaria. I like this hospital because they have
better services than the private clinics, and they have qualifi ed people to
look after us. You see, she is already cool. The private clinics just want to
take our money, but here they are giving proper treatment. They know
what they are doing. I feel confi dent that she will get better.”
33