01/06/2026
SSNAMA Commemorates International Nurses and Midwives Day in Rumbek
The South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association (SSNAMA), Rumbek Branch, on Saturday commemorated the International Nurses and Midwives Day at Rumbek Health Sciences Institute under the theme: “Our Nurses, Our Midwives, Our Future: Strengthening Clinical Excellence and Institutional Capacity in Lakes State.”
The celebration, organized in the form of a seminar, brought together nurses, midwives, health professionals, and government representatives to recognize the vital role healthcare workers play in serving communities.
Speaking during the event, the Chairperson of SSNAMA Rumbek Branch, Meen Santos, explained that the global community annually celebrates the International Day of the Midwife on May 5 and International Nurses Day on May 12. However, SSNAMA decided to commemorate the two important occasions together on May 30, 2026.
Santos said the gathering was meant to reaffirm the commitment of nurses and midwives to continue serving humanity in hospitals and communities despite the challenges they face.
A registered midwife, Martha Aping Dut, urged the government to provide the necessary medical equipment and essential drugs to enable health workers to effectively care for patients, particularly mothers. She also highlighted challenges related to salary scales and motivation, noting that improved welfare would enhance their performance.
Representing registered nurses, Loria Grace Julius urged the government to strengthen and support health teams in order to improve service delivery. She emphasized that healthcare workers require support and timely payment of wages to maintain quality patient care.
“Our patients are our priority, and our government should also make us their priority by clearing our wages,” Julius said.
In his closing remarks, Banok Muorwel, Director of Reproductive Health at the Ministry of Health in Lakes State, who represented the ministry at the event, encouraged nurses and midwives to remain dedicated to their work despite challenges such as shortages of drugs and other essential medical resources required to serve the patients who are in critical condition and the entire society.
The global community officially celebrates International Day of the Midwife on May 5th and International Nurses Day on May 12th every year on the calendar. In Rumbek, the two events were jointly commemorated on Saturday, May 30, 2026, through a seminar aimed at recognizing the contributions of nurses and midwives and discussing ways to strengthen healthcare services in Lakes State.
The commemoration concluded with calls for greater government support, improved working conditions, and increased investment in the health sector to enable nurses and midwives to continue providing quality healthcare services to the people of Lakes State.