Southern Sudan health system assessment

Originally intended to inform the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) application for the GAVI Alliance health systems strengthening (HSS) grant, the assessment examined the following building blocks of the health system: governance, health financing, human resources, service delivery, health information systems, and pharmaceutical and health commodity management. The assessment findings show that, in most areas of the Southern Sudan health system, strong will and commitment to improvement have not been matched with appropriate actions to implement change. The system is characterized by lack of skilled workers and limited resources at the state and county levels, inadequate flow of finances from the top down, and poor coordination between central, state, and county levels, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and partners. These factors have obstructed the Ministry of Health"s (MoH"s) ability to operationalize its National Health Strategy. These obstacles are to some extent a function of the limited amount of time the MoH has had to develop and implement its health policy and strategy since its formation in 2007. Financing and human resources challenges are further impediments to providing strong, decentralized care throughout South Sudan. (Author abstract, modified)