Mobile clinic near Wedwill refugee camp in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, providing healthcare services to refugees, returnees from Sudan, and host communities | Credit | MSF
Authorities in Aweil South County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, have shut five illegal private clinics and arrested their owners.
The County Health Director, Kuot Pel Pel, said the closures
and arrests came after the clinic owners defied orders to comply with health
regulations.
The facilities, run by students, were operating in the
communities without proper names, lacked documentation from the State Ministry
of Health, and reportedly employed unqualified staff.
“They don't have documents that can qualify them to run the
clinic. They have been disqualified by the state ministry of health. what is
called a clinic must have a doctor, or Clinical officer, Nurse, lab technician
and the pharmacist,” Pel said.
Paramount Chief Ayom Akol Wek welcomed the crackdown,
emphasizing that all private clinics must be licensed and employ trained health
personnel. He warned the public against seeking treatment or medicines from
unlicensed facilities.
“Private clinics operate without license, that is why those
without licenses have been closed for them to come with operating license.
These private clinics also brought medicines that are not used for treating
disease such as tramadol,” Wek said.
Authorities urge residents to be cautious about the clinics
they visit to avoid health risks from unqualified staff and improper medicines.