Health

Diversity and distribution of medicinal plants in the republic of South Sudan

Year of Publication
2020
Document Publisher/Creator
Joseph Daniel, Wani Lako and Et al
Topic
NGO associated?
Source URL
https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2020.7.1.0165
Summary
This review paper focuses on knowledge, skill, practices, benefits, and experiences pertaining to use of plants as medicinal aids to help, prevent or treat physical and mental illnesses in human in African continent especially South Sudan. Attitudes towards traditional medicine vary strongly with the tradition and cultures of the people and this has raised a serious confusion between herbal medicine and witchcraft. Millions of Africans and South Sudanese in particular prefer treatment and use of medicinal plant products made from indigenous plants, because it represents an important source of affordable medicine as well as sources of income for rural communities. 25% of the world medicinal plants are found in the African continent, but only 8% are used because information is transferred verbally from generation to generation and much is not unknown. The set back is due to lack of proof that medicinal plants are useful, safe and effective and can be used as alternative medicine. Many plants species are likely to become extinct as well as endangered as population increases demand also increases, giving greater pressure on medicinal plants. As a result, 50% of medicinal plants worldwide are threatened with extinction due to rampant exploration. Traditional herbal medicines are identified and produced by traditional medicinal practitioners in Africa. Many herbs grown in South Sudan and in African continent have valuable medical properties but traditional methods used have many disadvantages that can be corrected and developed to make them effective, stable and reproductive through the methods of scientific research.
Attachment
Date of Publication
04/09/2020

Will the Impact of the Pandemic on the Expected National Output Persist?

Year of Publication
2021
Document Publisher/Creator
James Alic Garang
Institution/organisation
The Sudd Institute
Topic
NGO associated?
Source URL
https://www.suddinstitute.org/publications/show/60b9c59aa6872
Summary
This weekly review contributes to the debate on how the COVID-19 induced hysteresis effects could affect growth in South Sudan. It addresses two related questions: What channels would transmit the COVID-19 scarring effects to the output? What can public policy do to support recovery?
Date of Publication
29/06/2021

Healthcare psychosocial support in South Sudan

Year of Publication
2020
Document Publisher/Creator
SSMJ (South Sudan Medical Journal)
NGO associated?
Source URL
http://www.southsudanmedicaljournal.com/
Summary
This essay looks at healthcare psychosocial support in South Sudan with specific focus on the COVID-19 crisis, postpartum and post abortion family planning, essential care of the newborn and mothers’ knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. It also looks at factors associated with neonatal sepsis in Tanzania and diabetes mellitus primary care in Uganda.
Attachment
Date of Publication
08/09/2020

COVID-19 in South Sudan's Borderlands: A view from Northern Bahr El-Ghazal

Year of Publication
2020
Document Publisher/Creator
Joseph Diing Majok and Nicki Kindersley
Institution/organisation
The Rift Valley Institute
NGO associated?
Source URL
http://riftvalley.net/sites/default/files/publication-documents/COVID-19%20in%20South%20Sudan%27s%20Borderlands%20-%20RVI%20X-Border%20Project%20%282020%29_0.pdf
Summary
Focusing on South Sudan’s borderland with Sudan, in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, it is clear that the national response to the virus, particularly the border shutdown, has rapidly become a new factor in Sudan and South Sudan’s cross-border political economy. The direct impact of COVID-19—like the consequences of Khartoum’s political transition and the establishment of the Transitional Government of National Unity in Juba—are yet to fully materialize in this borderland. This update summarizes the current political holding pattern around both COVID-19 and the political transitions in Khartoum and Juba, and how these interact with established long-distance trade and migrant work systems that drive the borderland economy.

This briefing is a product of the X-Border Local Research Network, a component of DFID’s Cross- Border Conflict—Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) programme, funded by UKaid from the UK government. The programme carries out research work to better understand the causes and impacts of conflict in border areas and their international dimensions. It supports more effective policymaking and development programming and builds the skills of local partners.
Date of Publication
09/09/2020

Is development aid to strengthen health systems during protracted conflict a useful investment? The case of South Sudan, 2011–2015

Year of Publication
2020
Document Publisher/Creator
Valadez JJ, Berendes S, Odhiambo J, et al.
Topic
NGO associated?
Source URL
2020;5:e002093. doi:10.1136/ bmjgh-2019-002093
Summary
Is achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 (building peaceful societies) a precondition for achieving SDG 3 (health and well-being in all societies, including conflict-affected countries)? Do health system investments in conflict-affected countries waste resources or benefit the public’s health? To answer these questions, we examine the maternal, newborn, child and reproductive health (MNCRH) service provision during protracted conflicts and economic shocks in the Republic of South Sudan between 2011 (at independence) and 2015.

Methods

We conducted two national cross-sectional probability surveys in 10 states (2011) and nine states (2015). Trained state-level health workers collected data from households randomly selected using probability proportional to size sampling of villages in each county. County data were weighted by their population sizes to measure state and national MNCRH services coverage.

Conclusion

Health system strengthening is not a uniform process and not necessarily deterred by conflict. Despite the conflict, health system investments were not wasted; health service coverage increased.
Attachment
Date of Publication
15/09/2020

Community Approaches to Epidemic Management in South Sudan

Year of Publication
2020
Document Publisher/Creator
Rift Valley Institute
Institution/organisation
The Rift Valley Institute
Topic
NGO associated?
Source URL
https://riftvalley.net/publication/community-approaches-epidemic-management-south-sudan
Summary
This briefing summarizes findings from the mid-point of the Community Approaches to Epidemic Management in South Sudan research project. The project is run by the Rift Valley Institute (RVI) and funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) via the East Africa Research and Innovation Hub (EARIH). The project, which began in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, is designed to document how communities across South Sudan have created systems and structures to control the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases in the country. It builds on a rapid response research study conducted by RVI in April this year: Responding to COVID-19 in South Sudan: making local knowledge count.

This briefing presents time-critical findings and suggestions for action. A full report will be published at the conclusion of the project that will present geographically specific evidence including detailed community methods of infectious disease management.
Date of Publication
02/10/2020

Secondary Impacts of Major Disease Outbreaks in Low- and Middle Income Countries

Year of Publication
2020
Document Publisher/Creator
Brigitte Rohwerder
Institution/organisation
K4D (Knowledge, Evidence and Learning for Development)
Topic
NGO associated?
Source URL
https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/handle/20.500.12413/15129
Summary
Major infectious disease outbreaks in low-and middle-income countries can have serious long-lasting impacts that go beyond the direct impact of the disease, to include secondary social, economic, health and political impacts. These impacts can result from response and control measures such as quarantines, travel restrictions, and social distancing, and can be short or longer term. This rapid review synthesises evidence on the secondary impacts of response and control measures to major disease outbreaks (e.g. SARS/H1N1/MERS/Ebola etc.) in low- and middle-income countries with weak health systems or in pre-existing cries. The available evidence regarding the secondary impacts of response and control measures to major disease outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries finds that they include socio-economic impacts, secondary health impacts, and political and security impacts. A second companion paper (Kelly, 2020) looks at lessons learned from responses to these secondary impacts. These include inter-sectoral responses and co-ordination between NGOs and national governments, the importance of health systems strengthening, and cultural awareness to mitigate against stigma and the marginalisation of specific groups.
Date of Publication
05/10/2020

Global Progress Report on WASH in Health Care Facilities: Fundamentals first

Year of Publication
2020
Document Publisher/Creator
World Health Organization (WHO)
Topic
NGO associated?
Summary
This report provides a comprehensive summary of global progress on improving water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management and environmental cleaning (WASH) in health care facilities and is intended to stimulate solution-driven country and partner actions to further address major gaps. It illustrates how stakeholders in the WASH and health sectors are increasingly working together in specific countries, with the ultimate aim of delivering safe, quality essential health services.
Attachment
Date of Publication
16/12/2020

Key considerations: bushmeat in the border areas of South Sudan and DRC

Year of Publication
2019
Document Publisher/Creator
Juliet Bedford
NGO associated?
Source URL
https://www.csrf-southsudan.org/repository/key-considerations-bushmeat-in-the-border-areas-of-south-sudan-and-drc/
Summary
In the context of the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), May 2019, this brief summarises key considerations about bushmeat (meat derived from wild animals for human consumption)in the context of preparedness activities in South Sudan. The brief details the socio-cultural and socio-economic significance of bushmeat amongst at risk communities and perceived risks of Ebola transmission through bushmeat. Its geographic focus rests on South Sudan’s south-western border with the north-eastern border of the DRC, where Yambio is the state capital and primary population hub. Key considerations and recommendations are tailored for this specific area, and may not be necessarily generalisable for other parts of South Sudan or beyond.

The brief is presented in two sections. ‘Section A’ focuses on bushmeat in light of the immediate risk of Ebola transmission from the active outbreak in the DRC to South Sudan (i.e., cross-border human-to-human transmission and in relation to the bushmeat trade). ‘Section B’ focuses more broadly on bushmeat in this specific geographic area, and the longer-term risk of a new Ebola or other infectious disease outbreak in South Sudan, as related to local bushmeat practices (i.e., unrelated to the current outbreak in DRC). The structure of this brief is designed to separate these issues and to support response partners to differentiate between the priorities for immediate preparedness activities underway in South Sudan and longer-term prevention actions.
Date of Publication
12/01/2021