Patients in Kajo-Keji Struggle for Survival as Poor Roads Cut Off Access to Health Care

(KAJO-KEJI COUNTY) – Sick residents in Kajo-Keji County say they are facing life threatening challenges due to the poor state of roads linking their area to Juba and Yei, making it nearly impossible to reach hospitals for proper medical care.

Many patients say they rely only on divine help or face premature death because of the poor road connections.

Residents are appealing to the government to urgently rehabilitate the Kajo Keji – Juba highway and the Kajo Keji – Lainya – Morobo Yei highway, which have become impassable.

Grace Kiden, a mother caring for her sick child, expressed frustration over the situation.

“We are facing serious problems here. There are no proper roads to take our sick patients to Yei or Juba.”

She urged the government to prioritise road repair projects, arguing that the poor condition of the roads affects not only health care but also the economy and security in the county.

“If you do not have money to travel by air or go to Uganda for better treatment, you may die simply because of a situation beyond your control,” she added.

Another patient, Moses Duku, currently receiving treatment at a private clinic in Wudu town, said the problem is worsening as many people cannot afford to travel long distances for specialised medical attention.

“This situation is very hard for ordinary citizens. We call on the government, companies, and development partners to fix at least the worst potholes so that poor patients like us can access better medical services,” said Duku.

Kajo-Keji County Health Director, George Gonda Elia, confirmed that many patients referred to Juba die because they cannot reach hospitals in time or afford treatment outside the county:

“The situation is worst for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, the elderly, and children. Sometimes we have emergency cases that require advanced treatment in Yei or Juba, but since there are no proper roads for quick evacuation, many patients die prematurely.”

Efforts to contact officials from the County Roads and Bridges Department and the State Ministry of Roads and Bridges for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

Local authorities, including community leaders, business people, and Members of Parliament representing Kajo-Keji County in the State Assembly, have repeatedly called on the government to make the rehabilitation of the Juba–Kajo-Keji highway a top priority to ease movement of goods, services and patients in need of emergency health care.

Residents say unless the government acts quickly to repair the main roads, preventable deaths will continue in the area, deepening the suffering of communities already struggling with limited access to health facilities.