UAE inaugurates Madhol Field Hospital in South Sudan

The UAE has inaugurated the Madhol Field Hospital in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal state of South Sudan.

During his speech at the hospital’s inauguration, Emirati Minister of State Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan said the hospital has a 100-bed capacity and several specialised clinics to treat people from the host community.

This is particularly significant in light of ongoing health challenges, such as the spread of malaria caused by insufficient medical services and inadequate access to medication. As a result, Madhol Field Hospital will play a key role in improving the quality of healthcare in South Sudan.

Sheikh Shakhboot, affirmed that the developmental and charity projects implemented by the UAE are a fundamental aspect of the country’s commitment to supporting communities in need. The UAE’s initiatives are carried out in close collaboration with the relevant international organisations, focusing on international priority projects such as education and healthcare.

“The inauguration of Madhol Field Hospital embodies the legacy of generosity and giving established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and also reflects the visionary leadership focusing on development and solidarity of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in addressing healthcare challenges and providing sustainable solutions to regions struggling with significant shortages in access to essential healthcare services,” he said.

He added, “The UAE is dedicated to empowering communities through humanitarian and development projects, as well as individuals through skills development. Today, as we celebrate with South Sudan and reap the benefits of our strong bilateral relations and deep-rooted values, we announce the inauguration of Madhol Field Hospital, which has a 100-bed capacity, and several specialised clinics to treat approximately two million people from the host community, South Sudanese returning from Sudan, and Sudanese refugees in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.”

Sheikh Shakhboot emphasised that this hospital is the third healthcare facility built by the UAE to provide medical services to Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries. The facility follows the successful establishment of two field hospitals in Amdjarass and Abéché, Chad.

He continued, “The UAE announced an additional $200 million of aid during the High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the People of Sudan, held in Addis Ababa. The conference, the first to be held for Sudan this year, will serve as a catalyst for future conferences that are scheduled to assist the people of Sudan. The additional aid reflects the UAE’s unwavering and continuous support for the Sudanese people.

“Since the onset of the crisis, the UAE has provided more than $600 million (AED 2.2 billion) to support a humanitarian response. Furthermore, the UAE has provided $3.5 billion (AED 12.8 billion) of humanitarian aid over the past 10 years to the people of Sudan, affirming the country’s unwavering commitment to support people in need during crises.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for South Sudan, Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, said, “We express our appreciation to the UAE for its leading international humanitarian efforts in enhancing the healthcare sector in Africa, through several projects and initiatives. These include the construction of hospitals to meet the needs of millions and improve various healthcare services. The opening of Madhol Field Hospital today stands as one of the UAE’s projects aimed at serving people from various surrounding regions, including refugees.”

The Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Simon Uber Mawut, said, “Today is the moment we have been waiting for, and we thank the UAE for constructing Madhol Field Hospital, which will aim to address health challenges in our region. Today is a historic day for the residents of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state and the entire region.”

The event was attended by several ministers and officials from both the UAE and South Sudan, and international organisations.