26/08/2025
Opinion copied from Peter Garang Ngor Ayok
An Open Letter to Hon. Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit, Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs
AN URGENT CALL: INVESTING IN HEALTH, SECURING SOUTH SUDAN'S FUTURE!
Honorable Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit,
Let me speak plainly and directly, for the very heartbeat of our nation, South Sudan, is at a crucial moment. You, as a Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, hold a powerful position, a torch that can light up a path to great success, or sadly, allow problems to grow. Today, I humbly ask you to shine that powerful light on the most basic of all special programs: Domestic Health Financing.
Let us be absolutely clear: for any country to have a strong and successful society, its people MUST be healthy! I write this article to say human health is paramount; it's about our economy, our national safety, and the solid ground on which all our plans for a better future depend.
We are at a key turning point. The generous help from other countries, which has for so long boosted our health sector is now changing. This help is getting weaker, and in some cases, it might even stop completely. We've already seen big cuts, and crucial community programs, the very links connecting our health system to our most vulnerable citizens are now in danger. To ignore this major shift is to risk the lives of our people and the future of our young nation.
Honorable Envoy, we are aware of your deep passion for social services, a commitment youโve demonstrated during your recent public statements in support of President Kiir's administration in delivering essential services to our people. You once rightly said, "The real celebration will be after establishing 400 facilities across our nation", a clear sign of your dedication to building a stronger, healthier South Sudan. It is with this spirit that we highlight two essential areas within your important work that need immediate and lasting attention:
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) โ A Safety Net for Families, A Promise of Care! Imagine a South Sudan where getting sick doesn't automatically push families into poverty. A National Health Insurance Scheme is a vital agreement among our people. It greatly reduces the huge "out-of-pocket" costs that currently weigh down our households and shares the financial risk among everyone. This plan will open the door to necessary healthcare for millions, making sure that a mother's fever, a child's cough, or a father's long-term illness can be treated without them having to sell off their few belongings. This is the ultimate program for respect, stability, and growth. We urge you, Hon. Envoy, to lead the effort in coordination with Ministry of Health to quickly set it up and make it work well.
Increased Budgetary Health Allocation โ Our Own Investment in Our People!
For too long, our national budget has treated health as less important, always falling far short of the Abuja Declaration's goal of 15%. This reliance on outside money has created a dependence that is now proving to be very shaky. It's time for South Sudan to take charge of its citizens' well-being. A significant increase in government money for the health sector is an investment. An investment in a strong workforce, in healthier mothers having healthier children, in a population that can resist illness, and ultimately, in the human talent that will build the South Sudan we all envision. This must be the core of our plan for domestic health financing for the 2025/2026 national budget and beyond.
Honorable Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit, our shared goal to make our Country a healthy nation is at stake. This is not something we can put off until tomorrow; it is a clear command for today. Your leadership in championing these crucial parts of domestic health financing within your special programs is absolutely vital.
Let us build a South Sudan where health is not a privilege, but a right, secured by our own efforts, for our own people. The time for strong action is NOW.
Sincerely and with the highest regard,
Peter Garang Ngor Ayok
Reachable via [email protected]
Juba, South Sudan
