July 5, 2014 (JUBA) – The government of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Gazal state has appointed Achier Adup Mou as the principal of its newly established health institute.

The map of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in red.

The institute is under the national government but administered by the state health ministry.

Tong Deng Anei, the state minister of health, described Mou’s appointment as part of efforts by the state administration to promote and improve health care system and services in the area.

“As part of my recent trip to USA and our commitment to promote healthcare system in Northern Bahr El Ghazal (NBG), the Government of Northern Bahr El Ghazal (NBG), state ministry of health (SMOH) wishes to notify you that Mr Achier Adup Mou (known in North America as Achier Mou) has been appointed to exercise any functions of the principal of Aweil national nursing and midwifery institute,” Anei said in a statement.

“I would like to seize this moment on behalf of the state ministry of health to thank and appreciate the support of the governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Kuel Aguer Kuel, and national minister of health Dr Riek Gai Kok, who wanted to see this new school functioning, producing mid-level health cadres. Due to the fact mentioned above, the governor and federal minister of health unanimously approved the said appointment of the new principal,” he added.

The health officer’s elevation is viewed as a move to woo diaspora youth with technical knowledge and expertise to return home and provide the desperately needed basic health services in the country.

Meanwhile, Sudan Tribune understands that Mou holds a master degree in public health from the United States-based University of Vermont (UVM) College of Medicine.

(ST)