South Sudan Medical Clinic Helps Thousands, With Help From Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A fundraiser and celebration was held Friday night to benefit a medical clinic in the country of South Sudan, which has been open now for one year thanks to the Rochester community.

The clinic is the passion of Palath Thonchar, who is one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. Thonchar was among 26,000 children who walked for years in search of refuge during Sudan's second civil war.

“The war claimed the lives of 2.5 million people, including my father, two sisters and extended family members,” said Thonchar.

His journey brought him to Rochester 13 years ago, and since then, the South Sudan Village Care Foundation^[1] has been Thonchar’s dream to help his war-torn village. The clinic was a way to make that happen.

"This is a very difficult part of the world to get medical services. It’s difficult to get bandages. A child or person could bleed to death because there are no medical attendants," Thonchar said.

In its 1st year of operations, more than 5,000 people have received medical care.

"When I first opened the clinic, many young children and mothers were dying from preventable or curable diseases like malaria, and other diseases. That clinic has changed many lives in the village,” said Thonchar.

Money raised at Friday's celebration, held City Grill on East Avenue in Rochester, will help continue getting medical supplies into Sudan as well as pay for medicine and the medical team.

Jane Lyth was on hand for the celebration. She’s been one of Thonchar’s early supporters.

"Many people in Rochester don't know that there are places with no medical help especially for moms giving birth and children giving immunizations,” said Lyth. "I'm proud of what he's done and the medical center he's established."

References

1. ^{^} South Sudan Village Care Foundation (sudanvillagecare.org)