Annual project 2025 renewed in 2026

Health care at the SVHCC, South Sudan, 2023, © PSF Switzerland.

The health, economic and social context of South Sudan makes the situation particular. With an almost non-existent health system, the health needs are glaring. The maternal mortality rate is particularly high (1 woman in 127 dies in childbirth, i.e. almost 160 more than in Switzerland). The particularities of the region, not to mention its danger, forced PSF Switzerland not to send a pharmacist on a long-term field assignment. Instead, PSF Switzerland has chosen to collaborate with the local coordinator of the SVHCC, combined with remote monitoring, as well as two short evaluation missions per year, one of which is specifically focused on training.

Support for the health centre and purchase of medicines

PSF Switzerland supports the SVHCC pharmacy by purchasing quality medicines and promoting their rational use. PSF Switzerland’s support also includes the purchase of medical equipment for the centre’s maternity ward and support for the training of the midwife, with the aim of ensuring safe deliveries for mother and child.

Capacity building of local staff

To overcome the inability to send a pharmacist to the site, e-learning modules were developed in collaboration with the Specialised Centre for Emergency and Disaster Pharmacy at the University of Geneva and made available to the centre’s health staff. Distance learning is also available through Pharm-Ed, an online educational platform created by the Pharmacy Service of the University Hospitals of Geneva. Since 2024, practical workshops related to the theoretical modules provided have been conducted during short evaluation missions.

Since 2019, PSF Switzerland has recorded encouraging results, confirming its intervention strategy. This project highlights the need to combine financial support with the purchase of quality medicines, technical support, training and professionalisation of local healthcare staff.

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