Health Officials Inspect National Laboratories and Emergency Centre in Juba

(JUBA) – The Minister of Health, Hon. Sarah Cleto Rial, and the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr. Annin Agot, have carried out a significant tour of South Sudan’s key public health infrastructure in Juba, including the National Public Health Laboratories and the Emergency Operations Centre.

The visit, conducted on 2 August 2025, was aimed at evaluating the readiness, capacity and ongoing work of frontline public health teams responsible for the country’s response to health threats.

According to officials, the inspection provided valuable firsthand insight into the capabilities of the laboratory services and the Emergency Operations Centre. These facilities are considered critical in diagnosing diseases, managing health crises and coordinating national responses during outbreaks.

During the visit, Minister Cleto observed operations within the laboratory complex, which houses diagnostic, surveillance, and research functions. She also examined coordination mechanisms used by the Emergency Operations Centre to respond to public health emergencies such as disease outbreaks, including COVID-19 and cholera.

Minister Cleto expressed her appreciation for the health professionals working in both facilities, acknowledging their efforts in maintaining national health security. She emphasised that understanding and investing in such systems is vital to ensuring resilience in South Sudan’s healthcare sector.

“In order to build a strong, effective health system that can protect the people of South Sudan, we must invest in these essential public health structures and the dedicated workforce behind them,” said the Minister during her address to staff.

The Undersecretary, Dr. Annin Agot, echoed the Minister’s remarks, noting that such visits are part of the Ministry’s ongoing commitment to strengthen institutional performance, enhance early detection systems, and ensure rapid response capacity across the country.

While no specific new funding or policy announcements were made during the visit, health officials stressed the importance of continuous engagement with both government and development partners to bolster laboratory services and public health emergency coordination.

The National Public Health Laboratories and the Emergency Operations Centre are situated in Juba, and serve as central nodes for health data analysis, disease surveillance and emergency response coordination.

Both have played key roles in managing public health emergencies, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent cholera alerts.

Officials reaffirmed that building a resilient health system requires not only political leadership but sustained technical support, training and financial investment.