WHO Regional Office Country Focus Coordinator visits South Sudan to strengthen health sector support

(Photo Credit: WHO)

Juba - The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa Country Focus and Coordination (CFC) Coordinator, Dr Zabulon Yoti, has concluded a high-level mission to South Sudan aimed at reinforcing WHO leadership, strengthening organizational stewardship, and advancing support to the country's health priorities during a period of leadership transition.

The three-day mission, conducted from 20 to 22 August 2026, followed the appointment of Dr Moses Ongom as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the WHO Country Office in South Sudan after the completion of the assignment of Dr Humphrey Karamagi, who has since assumed new responsibilities as WHO Representative in Somalia. The visit formed part of a broader WHO Regional Office initiative to support newly appointed OICs and ensure uninterrupted leadership, programme delivery, accountability, and engagement with governments and partners.

Throughout the mission, Dr Yoti engaged with WHO staff, senior management, technical and operational teams, and national authorities to review achievements, priority actions, organizational risks, and opportunities for strengthening WHO support to South Sudan. Discussions focused on sustaining momentum in health systems strengthening, emergency preparedness and response, disease prevention and control, health information systems, and operational excellence while navigating a complex humanitarian and development landscape.

Dr Yoti reaffirmed the confidence of WHO's Director-General and Regional Director in Dr Ongom's leadership and underscored the need for collective support from staff and partners to ensure continuity in WHO's work with government, communities, development partners and the United Nations system.

During the mission, the Country Office showcased key achievements across its programmes, including support to the development of normative frameworks such as the Essential Medicines List, expansion of cervical cancer screening services, strengthening of blood transfusion services and diagnostics, advancement of the National Health Observatory, successful immunization and disease control programmes, and WHO's leadership in coordinating health emergency responses and humanitarian health partners across the country.

The mission also reviewed critical priorities for the coming months, including strengthening domestic health financing, accelerating digital health innovations, institutionalizing the National Health Observatory, addressing vaccine stock-outs, enhancing preparedness for disease outbreaks and other emergencies, expanding integrated service delivery, and sustaining investments that build resilient health systems.

A key outcome of the visit was agreement on a set of priority actions to strengthen leadership, accountability, risk management, workforce sustainability, emergency readiness, resource mobilization, and programme implementation. The mission further reaffirmed WHO's commitment to supporting South Sudan's Ministry of Health in delivering quality health services, advancing universal health coverage, and building resilient systems capable of responding to current and future health challenges.

Speaking during the visit, Dr Yoti congratulated the WHO South Sudan Country Office team for its strong performance and dedication to improving health outcomes in the country. "I am confident that the appointment of Dr. Moses Ongom will further strengthen the continuity of WHO's work and engagement with the Government, development partners, the United Nations system and other stakeholders. This will ensure the effective delivery of health services for the benefit of the people of South Sudan."

In his engagements with staff, Dr Yoti emphasized that the health challenges facing South Sudan continue to evolve and require strong partnerships, innovation, accountability, and collective action. He called on all to work together to expand access to essential health services and accelerate progress toward better health and well-being for all people in South Sudan.

The visit concluded with a renewed commitment from WHO, the Ministry of Health, to strengthen collaboration, sustain health gains, and advance national priorities at a time when resilient health systems are more important than ever for the people of South Sudan.

Source: https://www.afro.who.int/countries/south-sudan/news/who-regional-office-country-focus-coordinator-visits-south-sudan-strengthen-health-sector-support