Health Experts Urge Urgent Action to Tackle Maternal Health and Environmental Risks in Unity State

By Denilson Deneki

Health experts in Unity State are calling on the government and development partners to prioritize maternal health, improve access to healthcare, and address environmental risks associated with oil production. They also stress the importance of stronger coordination between the health and education sectors to empower girls with reproductive health knowledge and prevent teenage pregnancies.

During a quarterly review held in August 2025, Mr. Gai Patai, County Health Director, revealed alarming increases in maternal deaths and morbidity across the state, along with a rise in cases of fistula. “Many teenagers are becoming pregnant before their bodies are fully developed, leading to complications such as fistula and maternal deaths,” he stated.

Mr. Patai further highlighted concerns about environmental pollution from oil exploration, which he believes may be contributing to birth deformities. “We suspect that oil exploration activities could be a factor behind some of the deformities we are observing in newborns,” he said. He also noted that many women fail to attend antenatal care (ANC), missing vital supplements like ferrous sulfate necessary for healthy pregnancies.

In response, the Unity State Ministry of Health is actively identifying women suffering from fistula and referring them to Bentiu State Hospital for surgical treatment. “So far, two women—one from Rubkona and another from Bentiu—have successfully undergone fistula repair and are now in good health,” Patai confirmed.

To strengthen maternal care, the county has launched quarterly training sessions for midwives aimed at early detection of pregnancy complications. Each Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) is staffed with four midwives, while Primary Health Care Units (PHCUs) across 17 facilities in Gona County have two midwives each.

Patai acknowledged the support from various partners working to improve emergency reproductive health services. “With assistance from Health Link South Sudan, Cordaid, and funding from UNFPA South Sudan through KOICA, we are providing life-saving reproductive health support to flood-affected communities at Yoanyang PHCC, Rubkona, and Bentiu County,” he explained.

Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain, including flooding, poor road access, limited funding, and insecurity, which hinder healthcare delivery in remote areas. The influx of returnees from Sudan has further strained the supply of medical resources. “When new supplies arrive, they are often exhausted within two or three months due to population pressure,” Patai noted.

Health experts are emphasizing the need for sustained investment in community-based reproductive health services to ensure safe motherhood and reduce preventable maternal deaths in the Unity State.