KajoKeji County Hospital Reopened

KajoKeji County Civil Hospital has gone from conflict-related destruction to its present-day reconstruction because of the French medical charity MSF [Doctors without Borders].

MSF’s head of mission in South Sudan Jocelyn Yapi says the hospital received nine patients including three children with gunshot wounds within the first 24 hours of reopening.

“Violent incidents like this are of grave concern to MSF because they lead to suffering, loss of lives and displacement of the people," Yapi said.

She says MSF is collaborating with the national Ministry of Health and others to provide medical humanitarian assistance where it is needed, including in response to incidents of violence.

Because of the years of conflict seen by the people of South Sudan, the MSF official said that seeking medical help has had its dangers.

"Insecurity may make it too dangerous or risky for the patients to seek the healthcare they need at clinics and medical facilities like the KajoKeji hospital,” she stated.

Kajo Keji County has seen plenty of bloodshed.

Last week, 21 people were killed and two others injured when suspected armed cattle herders from Jonglei state’s Bor County attacked several villages there.

Along with reopening the county's civil hospital, MSF said its teams are also visiting areas with displaced people to assess the situation in preparations for distribution of essential items including blankets, soap, and bed nets to help prevent malaria.