By Ngor Arol Garang

May 21, 2010 (TURALEI) — Health minister in the regional government of Southern Sudan has on Friday vowed to train more health workers in an effort to control the shortage of medical staff.

Dr. Joseph Nguen Monytuil, in an interview with Sudan Tribune from Juba, said his ministry has plans awaiting approval of the newly elected parliament to train health workers. The health sector in the region is one of the key sectors facing a major human resource crisis and that there are shortages of health workers at every service delivery level.

Dr.Nguen, who was speaking shortly after departing the inauguration ceremony site of the newly elected president of the government of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, said that GOSS recognizes the important role that human resource plays in the delivery of quality healthcare.

"The government of southern Sudan is fully aware of the importance role played by human resource in any sector including health. It plays very vital role and this is why it is at the top priorities of health ministry budget this year," he emphasized.

"Human resource is critical in the provision of quality healthcare and to address the current crisis, it is essential that the Ministry of Health ensures adequate and equitable distribution of appropriately skilled and motivated health workers," he said.

The caretaker minister of health who is likely to secure another ministerial appointment in the upcoming new cabinet, said his ministry selects clinical officers and nurses through competitive tests annually, for training both abroad and in the regional health training institutions.

"We select and send different medical students every year to health institutions both abroad and inside south Sudan," minister Monytuil said.

Notwithstanding this yearly selection, the region considering its vastest continues to face shortage of qualified health workers, albeit the fact that regional Ministry of Health has upgraded most institutions that train nurses and double the enrolment.

Currently, Government has embarked on upgrading hostels and laboratories in institutions that train nurses across the region; he said adding that the regional government is confident that the move will help mitigate the shortage of manpower in the health sector.

Minister Joseph, who replaced Dr. Theoplus Ochang in the 2007 reshuffle, said his ministry of Health is mindful that community-based providers are contributing towards improved service delivery and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals and national health priorities.

(ST)