The South Sudan Medical Journal exists to inform, educate and positively influence the development of Health Services in South Sudan.
The Journal is published quarterly in February, May, August and November.
The SSMJ is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
eISSN 2309-4613
SSMJ is listed on the African Journals Online (AJOL) and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Visit these sites to learn more.
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Latest Issue:
Vol 17. No. 2 May 2024
EDITORIAL
No smoke without fire: Recreational cannabis use among South Sudanese yout
Nyakomi Adwok
‘Bangi’, ‘ganja’, ‘weed’, ‘grass’, and ‘herb’ are a handful of names for psychoactive preparations of the Cannabis sativa plant. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cannabis is the world’s “most widely cultivated, trafficked and abused illicit drug.” Compared to substances like cocaine or heroin, recreational cannabis use enjoys a somewhat sanitised reputation as a ‘natural’ panacea for issues ranging from insomnia to social anxiety. This perception is further complicated by the legitimate applications of medicinal cannabis and cannabinoids, which under professional supervision, have shown efficacy in alleviating symptoms of conditions such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. In a qualitative study of drug and alcohol use among South Sudanese youth in Australia, Pittaway and Dantas found that most participants did not consider cannabis as a drug. Additionally, many participants reported that cannabis was beneficial for mental health issues and linked it to positive states like relaxation, creativity and freedom.
COVID-19 RESOURCE CENTRE
South Sudan COVID-19 Statistics
Visit the Ministry of Health COVID-19 site here
South Sudan Health News
Combatting Yellow Fever Outbreak in South Sudan: Urgent Push Towards Immunization
WHO
In response to a Yellow Fever outbreak in December 2023, the Ministry of Health, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other partners, conducted a yellow fever vaccination campaign in Western Equatoria State. The campaign targeted Yambio, Nzara, Ibba, Ezzo, and Tambura Counties, reaching 465 798 persons with the lifesaving vaccine.
The outbreak, confirmed on 24 December 2023, marked the region's second major outbreak in over three years, following a previous episode in the neighboring county of Kajo Keji in 2020. The campaign aimed to vaccinate approximately 608 268 individuals aged nine months to 65 years. Despite logistical challenges and the complexities of operating in a conflict-affected area, the initiative achieved a 77% coverage rate, highlighting the difficulties in reaching all targeted individuals.