Ten students received certificates after completing successfully a two-year course on Medical Laboratory Studies at the Laboratory Training School in Rumbek, Lakes State.
The graduation ceremony was attended by the governor of Lakes State, the Director General for training and Professional Development in GoSS Ministry of Health, GoSS Lab Technologist and Malteser International Country Director, Good News Radio reported.GoSS Lab Technologist Michael Lasuba said a laboratory is key to support disease diagnosis, surveillance and treatment.
He said poor health care in various states is due to lack of trained lab personnel, inadequate lab institutions and lack of harmonization of lab results.
Mr. Lasuba advised the students to maintain lab ethics otherwise they will lose their personnel licenses.
Margaret Itto, the Director General for training and Professional Development, highlighted the need for laboratory training and lamented lack of human resource for health.
She said that South Sudan has the highest infant and maternal death rates in the world.
Mr. Jan Kleinheisterkamp, Malteser International Country Director, congratulated the graduates.
He urged them to serve the citizens of South Sudan wherever they are needed whether in big cities or at the countryside.
Governor Chol Tong Mayay thanked Malteser International for its tireless work among the citizens of Lakes State since 1998.
He requested the organization to stay in South Sudan to oversee the nursing of the baby nation.
Malteser International spearheads the fight against HIV and AIDS, TB, and leprosy in Lakes State besides running the Medical Laboratory Training.