Trauma wards in South Sudan, including Juba military hospital, are facing increased pressure from renewed fighting. The conflict has led to a rise in demand for surgical care, overwhelming the country's health system.
Dr Slobodan Mirosavljev, a surgeon at Juba military hospital, reported seeing critically wounded patients by 11am on a recent Thursday. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supports surgeries at the hospital for victims wounded by weapons in the conflict between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO).
The fighting has intensified over the past year, particularly in Jonglei state. Rose Ochieng, the ICRC’s health coordinator in South Sudan, stated that the surgical department at Giada military hospital operated at more than 160% of its bed capacity during its most recent peak this year.
The hospital's medical teams face challenges including maintaining a reliable supply of blood, a critical resource in the trauma unit. A single severely wounded patient can require half of the hospital's typical supply of 15-20 units.