South Sudan

Since 2013, civil conflict combined with poverty has continued to undermine the South Sudan's health care infrastructure and drive high rates of fistula.

Why We Work in South Sudan

Since 2013 South Sudan has been racked by civil war.  Hundreds of thousands have died in the conflict, and more than a third of South Sudanese have fled their homes. Today, despite a relative period of calm, ceasefire violations, along with epidemic outbreaks and extreme poverty, continue to undermine the country’s stability.

Not surprisingly, South Sudan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. A woman has a one-in-28 chance of dying from pregnancy-related causes in her lifetime. For every woman that dies in childbirth, the World Health Organization estimates that 20 more survive with significant injuries, such as obstetric fistula. 

Nearly every risk factor for obstetric fistula is prevalent in South Sudan. Early marriage and teenage pregnancy are common, and the fertility rate is high. With limited access to maternal health care services, very few women give birth in the presence of a skilled attendant. Sporadic fistula treatment campaigns in recent years have not kept up with the resulting high rate of obstetric fistula and backlog of existing cases.

What You Help Us Do

We are investing in the following areas to build South Sudan’s in-country medical services and provide life-transforming surgery to as many women as possible:

Meet Our Partners

We identify local surgical teams in South Sudan already successfully treating women with fistula—and then work to amplify their efforts. 

Who are our current partners?

Artemedis South Sudan

  • Location: Aweil, Bentiu, Juba, Wau, and Nzara
  • Partner Since: 2019

Global Health Ministries

  • Location: Juba
  • Partner Since: 2017

Health Coordination Department, Catholic Diocese of Wau

  • Location: Wau
  • Partner Since: 2023
Who are our past partners?

Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA International)

  • Location: Juba
  • Partner In: 2013 – 2016
How much funding have we granted?

Below are funding totals since the start of each partnership.

Current Partners

  • Artemedis: $1,081,720
  • Global Health Ministries: $110,948
  • Health Coordination Department, Catholic Diocese of Wau: $100,528

Past Partners:

Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA International): $567,166

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