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Catholic Clinic in South Sudan Closed Down After All Doctors Test Positive for COVID-19

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By Peter Mapuor Makur

Wau, 18 February, 2021 / 6:20 pm (ACI Africa).

A Catholic Health Centre of South Sudan’s Wau Diocese has temporarily shut down after the three only doctors at the facility tested positive for COVID-19 and have been isolated to monitor their respective health conditions.

The Administrator of Sika Hadid Primary Health Centre, Sr. Bibiana Efimi, announced Wednesday, February 17 that the clinic will remain closed for over a fortnight depending on the recovery of the medical personnel.

“Our clinic is closed down because our doctors are under quarantine; they tested positive and they will be away for two weeks,” Sr. Bibiana confirmed to ACI Africa February 17.

She added, “After 14 days, the doctors will go for another test; if the test is okay then we will open, otherwise it will remain closed.”

According to the Indian-born Sister, the medical doctors at the Catholic health facility do not have a history of travel out of South Sudan since COVID-19 broke out around the globe.  

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The leadership of the hospital in coordination with the Diocesan authorities have informed the government leaders in Western Bhar el Ghazal state to assist in providing the hospital with doctors to cover for their colleagues in isolation.

“At the moment, we don’t have doctors to work and we have to remain closed unless the government comes in to help us,” Sr. Bibiana said and added, “I informed the county authorities and if they help us, then there may be hope of reopening the facility soon.”

Meanwhile, the Health Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Wau, Dr. Jurel Payii Mamur reiterated Sr. Bibiana’s message, saying that the Centre will remain temporarily closed for about two weeks as the doctors go through their isolation period.

Dr. Mamur told ACI Africa that “The decision to close Sika Hadid Clinic came after the Church administration and the administration of the health care conducted a meeting and resolved to close down the Centre.”

“While the Doctors are under quarantine, the Centre will be under serious disinfection and sterilization for everybody’s safety,” the Health Coordinator said and urged citizens in the nine-year-old nation to continue implementing the preventive measures of COVID-19 for their own safety and that of others.

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In South Sudan where the health care system is among the weakest in the world, the number of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise.

As of February 17, the East-Central African country recorded at least 5,922 coronavirus cases, 79 related deaths and 3,876 recoveries.

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