The Office of the First Lady which runs an organisation called Concern for Women and Children has donated food and non-food items to vulnerable groups, mostly pregnant mothers, sick children and street kids to ensure them a merry Christmas.
The first donations of sugar, washing and bathing soap, milk powder, maize flour, and dresses for women were made at the maternity ward of Juba Teaching Hospital amidst a cheerful and singing crowd made up mostly of midwives and nurses.Anna Kimah, Executive Board Member of Concern for Women and Children, said the First Lady Mary Ayen Mayardit asked the group to present the donation to the delivering women since they will spend their Christmas in the hospital.
She added that the First Lady hoped to donate to other vulnerable groups in all the ten states of South Sudan, but there was no enough money.
Although South Sudan’s public hospitals offer free health services, the office of the First Lady notes in a statement that many still cannot afford supplementary commodities to help them in the medical institutions.
Dr. Kuma Choul, senior gynaecologist at Juba Teaching Hospital, welcomed the donation saying it shows that the presidency cares for the people.
Midwife Judith Senia said the maternity ward needs more than Christmas gifts, including more midwives, and constant power and water supplies.
The donation from the First Lady’s office is one of a couple of activities the organisation undertakes to empower vulnerable women and children this Christmas.