As the United States prepares to celebrate its 235th birthday, a new nation is being formed half a world away in East Africa. South Sudan is scheduled to officially become a new, independent country — the world's 196th — on July 9, just days after our own Independence Day celebrations.
This is a truly historic event, the creation of a nation after 50 years of devastating civil war, and I hope all of us in the U.S. and around the world will celebrate this occasion with the people of South Sudan. After all, this is not just a victory for the South Sudanese; this is a victory for everyone who believes in the right of people to determine their own destiny, free from oppression and violence.
Yet, let us also remember that the challenges ahead are immense. South Sudan is starting with an infrastructure severely weakened from years of neglect and further strained by hundreds of thousands of refugees from areas such as Darfur who are pouring over the border in hopes of a new life. The sad reality is that South Sudan is hardly able to take care of its own; the health system is crippled; many clinics are closed or without medicine. Reports vary, but most agree there are fewer than 500 South Sudanese doctors, most of whom don't have advanced degrees, and fewer than 100 specialists, leaving many in need of health care with no place to go.
My organization, IMA World Health, recently collected data in two of South Sudan's 10 states, where we are leading health recovery efforts. It revealed that less than 20 percent of all children are vaccinated against routine diseases such as tetanus and measles; nearly 90 percent of expectant women deliver at home without any assistance from a trained midwife or doctor. Clearly, we have much work to do to ensure the success and health of this new nation.
President Barack Obama and our government — along with the international community as a whole — need to continue to be thoroughly committed to promoting lasting peace, a necessary foundation for progress. We as individuals also have the responsibility to become personally involved in meeting the needs of others: those in our own communities as well as distant neighbors. We can do this by actively learning about the history and current situation in South Sudan; supporting organizations that are working alongside the South Sudanese; and contacting our elected officials to make sure that the needs of the country are not forgotten.
I was in Juba last December and discussed with the Ministry of Health the challenges it faces. As a Maryland-based health nonprofit, we know how to efficiently provide basic supplies, properly train health care workers, develop a functioning health system knitting remote rural clinics to larger hospitals, and devise plans for the provision of a basic package of health services that are essential for the health of this young nation.
We and other organizations like ours are committed to providing this assistance as much as we can in our respective fields, but it is ultimately up to the people of South Sudan to make their vision for their nation a reality. This work is not about handouts; it's about empowering people to own the solutions and the work themselves — even if it means a longer process. South Sudan greatly needs our expertise, resources and support to be a catalyst for its long-term development.
The people of South Sudan have a vision of freedom similar to that of our forefathers, so let's remember that we are partners in independence. After all, the United States did not build its health infrastructure overnight.
As we support the South Sudanese, let us focus on long-term results and partnerships rather than concentrate on temporary aid and short-term relief. Public-private partnerships are needed to invest in training doctors, nurses, midwives and community health workers, as well strengthen the entire health system. Short-term assistance is needed right away, but it must be part of a long-term strategy that shows commitment to development 10 years from now — not just 10 months from now.
Finally, let's stand together with the people of South Sudan as they gain independence and begin a new journey toward health, freedom and prosperity.
Richard L. Santos is president and CEO of IMA World Health, a nonprofit based in New Windsor providing health care services and supplies to vulnerable and marginalized people. He can be reached at info@imaworldhealth.org.