Welcome to the United Nations

UNMISS and local communities in Malakal jointly commemorate World Health Day

UNMISS teamed up with local communities in Malakal for a one-day general and reproductive health awareness campaign to commemorate World Health Day.

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, World Health Day, annually commemorated on 7 April, is even more significant this year.

“As we’ve seen with Coronavirus, prevention is better than cure,” stated Martha Akol Tor, a women’s representative from Malakal, Upper Nile state, who was attending a health awareness campaign run jointly by Indian peacekeepers from the UNMISS hospital here and the mission’s Relief, Reintegration and Protection section. “This awareness drive follows the same principle: Educating women of all ages on looking after ourselves, especially our reproductive health,” continues Martha.

More than 40 staff from the state Health Department also participated in this one-day session.

“Commemorating an International Day isn’t just about organizing activities on that particular date,” said Akur Monylang Bol, Acting Director, Ministry of Health. “It’s about coming up with a necessary and achievable goal which we, as a country, can strive towards to improve the lives of our citizens. Women’s health is one such key issue.”

Ms. Bol, during her speech, also emphasized the need to improve facilities at the Malakal Teaching Hospital and commended the role played by UNMISS as well as other national and international agencies in filling the gap in government health infrastructure.

Her words were echoed by Begimai Ashiralieva, Civil Affairs Officer, UNMISS, who highlighted the importance of good health for women and children.

“Worldwide, COVID-19 has affected women disproportionately. As a mission, we are here on the ground to help protect local communities and supporting health infrastructure is a key part of our efforts to work with the people of South Sudan in building durable peace. I am hopeful, that this campaign will provide useful information to the women who are present here,” she averred.

From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the World Health Day celebration has aimed to create awareness of a specific health theme to highlight a priority area of concern for the World Health Organization.

The awareness drive in Malakal was held under this year’s theme—'Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone.’