An Update from South Sudan

Being unable to celebrate the Society’s Centenary anniversary on 30th September 2025 in person with other Medical Mission Sisters, we are grateful to Sister Gaudencia Nafula Wanyonyi for marking this once-in-a-hundred years day by writing an update from South Sudan.

Sister Gaudencia is currently serving as Principal Tutor in the Nursing and Midwifery School at the Catholic Health Training Institute, situated in Western Bahr El Gazal State in Wau. In existence since 2010, it has been training nurses and midwives, thanks to an inter-congregational initiative of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General called Solidarity with South Sudan.

Life continues to be tough in South Sudan which is the world’s youngest state following its independence from Sudan in 2011.  The country has an estimated population of 12.7 million people of whom the largest ethnic group is the Dinka (or Jieng), making up approximately 36% of the population, followed by the Nuer (or Naath) at around 16%.  Other significant ethnic groups include the Shilluk, Azande, Bari, and Anuak. 

Sister Gaudencia reports that the current war in Sudan is having new and often devastating consequences on South Sudan - for example, since the start of the conflict, 1,200,000 people have arrived from Sudan or returned to South Sudan from other countries.

Many of her new students from the Elo-Bed diocese have risked their lives to reach the training institute. On the road, they have come face-to-face with rebels, had their vehicles targeted and wrecked and been forced to work miles with their luggage on their heads, passing along seemingly impassable roads full of water or mud.  At times, they have walked on foot on no road at all and gone for days without food or drink. They are not sure whether they will return home and find their families alive or killed or displaced, yet they remain ever hopeful that after their training, they will be equipped to contribute to improving the healthcare system in their country.  This means that they let nothing stop them from reaching the Catholic Health Training Institute to acquire the knowledge and experience for which they so much hunger. 

There is an urgent need for expanded training of skilled midwives and nurses in South Sudan to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths and other health conditions.  The country's health workforce remains critically insufficient, with only 3.5 health workers (doctors, nurses and midwives) per 10,000 persons, falling far short of WHO’s required 44.5 per 10,000 persons, set as the benchmark for delivering essential healthcare services in a country.  This severe shortage continues to limit access to basic healthcare for the majority of the population and leads to high rates of infant and maternal mortality and the prevalence of infectious diseases.  One of the greatest challenges that Sister Gaudencia has faced in her first three months in mission is the alarming rate of malaria infection among the institute’s students and staff. In the clinic run by the school, no single day goes by without students needing treatment for severe malaria.  Likewise at the hospitals, where the students go to gain clinical and practical experience, it is the same story; malaria is also now the leading cause of anaemia in children.

Despite South Sudan’s many complex and unique challenges, Sister Gaudencia really appreciates her new role because it is a life-changing experience in many more ways than she could ever imagine.  Each day brings new learning for her as well as for her students. 

Thank you, Sister Gaudencia – stay safe!