Mount Isa family packing health skills and compassion for shift to South Sudan

After living in Mount Isa for 10 years, Ben and Sarah Beard and their three children are packing their suitcases to move to one of the world's newest nations, South Sudan for six months.

Mr Beard, a nurse, said the opportunity to work in paediatrics in the central African nation was something he and his family had been planning throughout the global health pandemic.

Getting to South Sudan was a fairly easy process, despite the pandemic, Mr Beard said — but coming back in six months, as planned, might be more difficult. 

"[South Sudan] used to [have quarantine] but they don't at the moment," he said.

"We just have to quarantine when we return to Australia."

He said he would be working in a hospital in paediatric nursing, a significant change from his Mount Isa role as an intensive care nurse.

"We actually have friends that have gone over there who trained here also," Mr Beard said.

"We met some nurses out here in Cloncurry that have also gone there as well, so we'll be meeting up with people from all over the north-west."

South Sudan, which became an independent nation in 2011, is getting back on its feet after a seven-year civil war that killed about 400,000 people and sent refugees across the world.

It is one of Africa's most underdeveloped nations, with little infrastructure and some of the world's worst health indicators, including infant and maternal mortality.

The Australian Government's Smart Traveller website lists South Sudan^[1] under "do not travel". 

Mr Beard said the trip would fulfil professional and personal goals. 

"Ultimately, we are both Christians so we're going to a mission over there," he said. 

"As a nurse, I'm really interested in health on a global scale. Last year we talked a lot about universal healthcare.

"Looking at their situation over there I really feel like there's something that we can contribute. For example, there's only one midwife for 40,000 people over there and a lot of deaths that occur in children."

A family affair

Ms Beard said their three children, aged eight, six and three, would be home-schooled by her while they were out of Australia.

She said she was excited to move and share the experience with her family. 

"We've always been quite open to having our kids exposed to the world outside our western culture," she said.

"We see this as a great opportunity to teach the kids what it can be like.

"Particularly where we're going. It is very restricted and there's a limited supply of basic essentials."

She said with limited luggage and three kids they wouldn't be able to pack too many non-essentials. 

"We might take a few of our creature comforts to get us through the hard times," she said.

References

1. ^{^} Smart Traveller website lists South Sudan (www.smartraveller.gov.au)