By Waure Eddy
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, His Lordship Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, has fulfilled his promise to support local health facilities by donating medicine and essential supplies to the Barracks health facility and Tambura County Hospital.
The pledge was made last month during the visit of the Greek Heart Doctors, who carried out medical assessments in Yambio, Nzara, Ezo, Source-Yubu, and Tambura. Following their assessments, the visiting medical team identified urgent needs in local hospitals and recommended immediate intervention to address critical shortages.
The Barracks facility received six boxes of medicine, six mattresses, two beds, three packages of beans weighing 25 kilograms each, two sacks of posho weighing 50 kilograms each, one box of soap, and one washing facility basket. Tambura Hospital received three boxes of medicine and one box of soap. The items were officially handed over on Sunday at the parish by CODEP Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Gibson Kamilio Bakuyo and his team.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Father Santino Makue expressed deep appreciation for the Bishop’s commitment to the community’s health needs. He said the Bishop’s promise has finally come to reality, noting that the medicine is now on the ground and will support patients at this critical moment. Father Makue recalled that during the Bishop’s earlier visit, he personally witnessed the severe shortage of drugs in both facilities and emphasized that this medicine will provide much-needed relief to patients who have been suffering.
Mr. John Chan, Clinical Officer at the Barracks facility, highlighted the significant impact the donation will have on patient care. He explained that before this intervention, the facility had virtually nothing, with patients being admitted without even beds or mattresses to lie on. He expressed profound gratitude to the Bishop, saying the support will help them greatly in providing dignified care to those seeking treatment.
Tambura Hospital Administrator Mr. Joseph Baraka also praised the Bishop’s generosity, acknowledging that the Bishop’s promise has been fulfilled. He noted that the medicines will help patients, especially those who had been suffering due to the lack of drugs. Baraka expressed hope that the hospital will continue to receive support from the Bishop in the near future, as the healthcare challenges in the area remain substantial.
The donation underscores Bishop Hiiboro’s ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access in Western Equatoria State, where many health facilities struggle with chronic shortages of medicines, equipment, and basic supplies. His initiative directly responds to the recommendations of the Greek Heart Doctors, who identified urgent needs in local hospitals during their recent mission to the region.
Healthcare delivery in Tambura County has been severely affected by years of conflict and displacement, which have disrupted medical supply chains, damaged infrastructure, and forced many trained health workers to flee. The remaining facilities often operate with minimal resources, making donations like this critical for maintaining even basic services to the population.
Bishop Hiiboro’s intervention demonstrates the Catholic Church’s continued role in supporting vulnerable communities and filling critical gaps in essential services across South Sudan. The Church has long been a primary provider of healthcare in remote and underserved areas of the country, often stepping in where government capacity is limited or absent.
The handover ceremony was attended by local health officials, religious leaders, and community representatives, who expressed appreciation for the Bishop’s pastoral concern and practical support during a period of great need. Community members voiced hope that this gesture would inspire other partners and stakeholders to contribute to strengthening healthcare delivery in Tambura County and across Western Equatoria State.
