Authorities in Torit County in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State have repaired three vehicles, including two ambulances, that had been out of service for nearly two years, in a move aimed at improving emergency medical care and patient referrals.
The vehicles, which include an ambulance belonging to Torit State Hospital, another operated by the Torit County Health Department and a pickup used by doctors, were handed back to their respective health facilities following repairs coordinated by Torit Mayor and Caretaker Commissioner Eddy William Ponsiano Bolye.
Speaking during the handover on Friday, Bolye said the repairs cost about $10,000, with some spare parts purchased from outside the country.
He said the intervention followed concerns about patients struggling to access medical care, with some families forced to carry sick relatives on beds from their homes because no functioning ambulances were available.
Bolye urged organisations operating in Torit to ensure that public service vehicles were properly maintained, saying they had been acquired to serve communities rather than individuals.
He also criticised the failure to repair vehicles with manageable faults, warning that leaving them idle could worsen the suffering of vulnerable patients.
Bolye said the restored vehicles would improve medical referrals in Torit and surrounding areas, noting that the services had previously benefited patients from Magwi and as far away as Juba.
Dr. Mustaffa Lokuru, the medical director of Torit State Hospital, welcomed the repairs, describing them as an important step towards addressing longstanding challenges in the referral system.
Lokuru said Bolye acted promptly after being informed about the grounded vehicles, bringing together the county health department director and implementing partners to discuss their repair.
He said the lack of transport had hindered access to emergency treatment, particularly for women experiencing complications during childbirth and other patients who struggled to reach health facilities in time.
According to Lokuru, the hospital had relied heavily on the county health department’s ambulance for referrals and emergencies, including gunshot injuries.
He said the repaired vehicles would also allow doctors to respond more quickly to emergencies and transport medical staff attending to patients, including at night.
Lokuru appealed for continued support to keep the vehicles operational, particularly through the provision of fuel for referrals and emergency services.
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