Southern Sudan > Programme description
1. How long has Medair been in the country?
Improvement of access to health care
Medair first started operating in Southern Sudan in 1992 and has had a permanent presence since 1995. Until 2005, Medair was part of Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS), a coalition of 40 different agencies working together to improve living conditions in the region. Medair has now signed a memorandum of understanding for humanitarian cooperation with the U.N. Resident Coordinator’s office.
2. What is Medair doing in the country?
Medair’s overall goal within Southern Sudan is to increase access to health care, safe water, and, in cases of acute crisis, emergency relief services. Medair is committed to remaining in the region until emergency relief and rehabilitation is no longer needed, or until needs are met by other agencies. Its top priority is to provide for the most vulnerable people, often specifically targeting women of child-bearing age and children under five.
As with all of Medair’s programmes, there is a strong emphasis on capacity building in Southern Sudan. Medair equips members of the local community with new knowledge and skills to facilitate local ownership and long-term sustainability of projects. Central to its work is a focus on its relationship with beneficiaries; Medair strives to attain the highest levels of beneficiary accountability in its programmes.
3. Where are we working?
Melut and Manyo Counties
These counties are home to Medair’s fixed-site Watsan and primary health care activities in Upper Nile state.
Medair is one of the only NGOs providing health assistance in this highly vulnerable area. Melut and Manyo counties are considered underserved according to Ministry of Health (MoH) recommendations.
All 10 States
Medair’s Health Services Emergency Response Team (ERT), based in Juba, responds to emergencies across all 10 states in Southern Sudan.
4. How many people are working for Medair in Southern Sudan?
Medair employs 30 internationally recruited staff (IRS), 38 Kenyan recruited staff (KRS), and 210 nationally recruited staff (NRS) in Southern Sudan.