Naomi Yar, a staff member at Jamnel Care, actively engages communities, addresses women and girls on maternal care, family planning, and services for survivors of gender-based violence, particularly in remote and displacement settings (Photo: Courtesy)
Jamnel Care Organization urges the government to prioritize Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in both national and emergency response plans, ensuring that women and girls receive the critical care they need.
Currently, South Sudan continues to face profound humanitarian challenges due to displacement, economic hardship, and fragile peace, resulting in women and girls encountering significant barriers in accessing essential SRHR services.
While many health facilities remain operational, actual accessibility is hindered by distance, insecurity, and a shortage of trained personnel.
“Even where facilities exist, many women still give birth at home or delay seeking care,” says Robert Cheng’un, Project Coordinator at Jamnel Care. “For a young girl in a rural area or a woman displaced from her home, accessing SRHR services can be nearly impossible.”
Cultural stigma, poverty, and low awareness, particularly among adolescents, further compound the issue. Displaced families often settle in overcrowded or informal camps where SRHR services are limited or nonexistent.
Recent escalations of conflict outside Juba have added further complexity, displacing families and restricting movement, with healthcare workers face mounting challenges in reaching affected communities, leaving women and girls isolated and unable to seek medical attention.
“These tensions are not just political; they disrupt lives in the most intimate ways,” notes Yar. “When women can’t travel to deliver safely, or girls can’t access contraception due to insecurity, we see the ripple effects on the health and safety of entire communities.”
Mental health services for survivors of gender-based violence remain scarce, exacerbating the emotional toll and trauma they endure. Many suffer in silence due to a lack of safe spaces, counseling, and legal support.
Jamnel Care is working directly with communities through mobile outreach, safe-space discussions, and youth-led education programs, focusing on empowering women and girls as informed decision-makers in their own reproductive health.
“We don’t just want to treat, we want to empower,” says Cheng’un. “Our approach centers women and girls as leaders and educators within their communities.”
Now, the organization is calling on the South Sudanese government, donors, and humanitarian actors to prioritize SRHR within national and emergency response strategies. Strengthening healthcare systems, expanding mobile services, and training health workers are crucial steps to ensuring every girl and woman, no matter her circumstances, has access to dignified, quality care.
“SRHR is not a luxury; it’s a right,” adds Yar. “Investing in it is not just about saving lives but restoring dignity, hope, and opportunity.”
As South Sudan continues on its path toward recovery and peace, ensuring that women and girls are not left behind must be a national priority. SRHR services, especially in crisis-prone areas, are fundamental to building a just and inclusive future.
