SSMJ February 2025
Editorials
South Sudan has been in a cycle of conflicts since the 1950s with underdeveloped health infrastructures and a critical gap in human resources for health. However, in the past two decades, after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 which culminated in independence in 2011, a significant advancement in access and services delivery has been achieved.
Despite the advancements, the health sector continues to face challenges from human resources, drugs availability to multiple outbreaks of infectious diseases.
News, Reports and Policy
Obituary
Obituary
Clinical Guidance
Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis is an adenoviral infection that is highly contagious occurring in overcrowded settings where hygiene conditions are poor. Common symptoms include a gritty sensation, tearing, membranous conjunctivitis, and subconjunctival haemorrhage.
Research
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a partially double-stranded, enveloped virus with a circular DNA genome. It belongs to Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. A first infection with HBV is considered as an acute infection. An infection lasting more than six months is defined as chronic infection. The transmission of HBV from mother to child during birth is known as vertical transmission. Horizontal transmission refers to the passage from one host to another (e.g. sexual contact with an infected person, blood transfusion).
Massive Obstetric Haemorrhage is blood loss of ≥ 2L or a rate of blood loss of >150ml/min. It is also defined as any blood loss that is associated with significant maternal morbidity. Maternal obstetric haemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal morbidity worldwide and associated with substandard care. The main types of obstetric haemorrhage are antepartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage and uterine rupture.
Paediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health issue, contributing to high morbidity and mortality among children. In 2020, an estimated 1.3 million deaths were attributed to TB, with 208,000 of these fatalities occurring in children under 15 years, and more than 80% among those under five years. This emphasises the critical role of early diagnosis and timely intervention in preventing paediatric TB deaths. Treatment, once started, reduces the mortality rate to below 1%.
Malnutrition is caused by insufficient, excessive, or imbalanced intake of nutrients. In children it can lead to stunted growth, weakened immune system, and increased susceptibility to diseases. Underlying causes may be a lack of access to food, inadequate healthcare, and recurring illnesses, and these vary across different regions and countries. In South Sudan, conflicts, economic instability, and poor infrastructure contribute to food insecurity, limited access to clean water and sanitation, and inadequate healthcare services leading to a high prevalence of young child malnutrition.
Case Reports
Isolated horizontal duodenal injuries resulting from blunt abdominal trauma are exceedingly rare, primarily due to the retroperitoneal location of the duodenum. This anatomical characteristic often leads to delayed diagnoses.
We present a case report on the surgical repair of retroperitoneal duodenal perforation following blunt trauma.
Summaries
Following the establishment of the Africa Centrse for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) within the African Union in 2016, it was mandated to support the creation of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) in African Union (AU) member states. In 2018, the Africa CDC published a framework for the development of NPHIs. That same year, a high-level meeting was held at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) involving the Ministry of Health (MOH), the US CDC, and the World Health Organization (WHO), which affirmed the commitment to establishing an NPHI for South Sudan.
Community health workers (CHWs) are defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) as healthcare workers who ‘provide health education, referral and follow-up, case management, basic preventive health care and home visiting services to specific communities. This paper is a synthesis report on the third CHWs’ symposium held in Monrovia, Liberia in March 2023 and its implications for the South Sudan version, the Boma Health Workers (BHWs).
Guinea Worm Disease (GWD), caused by the parasitic worm Dracunculus medinensis, is a debilitating condition characterized by painful skin ulcers. This waterborne disease, transmitted by ingesting contaminated drinking water infected with the larvae poses a significant public health challenge, primarily affecting rural communities with limited access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities.
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor