USAID Sudan Health Transformation Program Launching Ceremony Rumbek, Southern Sudan - 5/13/04

Your Excellency, SPLM vice-chairman, Dr. Riak Machar; Srrc Commissioner, Mr. Elijah Malok; secretariat of health commissioner, Dr. Achol; Bahr el Ghazal regional deputy secretary, Mr. Daniel Deng Monydit, Mamakezia, secretary of women's affairs; and other special guests. It is an honor to be so warmly welcomed by such prominent leaders of the Hope for Southern Sudan favorite mama tak.

SOURCE: Chris Thomas

First, I would like to say how delighted I am to be in Rumbek with you today for the launch of the Sudan health transformation program. I have lived and worked in a number of countries in Africa. Africa is the home of my heart where my third child was born. It is very exciting to be here at this to know that the peace agreement will soon be signed and the twenty years of civil war will be over.

As you know, the white house, the USAID administrator Andrew Natsios, and Senator Danforth have been very engaged in finding a lasting resolution to the conflict in "New Sudan."

The U.S. State department has already provided funds to W.H.O. And the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to bring together the health ministries of both north and south Sudan to address common challenges, and find common solutions. We are aware that the SPLM with its NGO partners has successfully submitted a proposal to the Global Fund for malaria and TB activities to reduce the burden of malaria by increasing the use of insecticide treated nets, and providing better treatment. The tuberculosis component will increase directly observed treatment short course (DOTS), to augment case detection and improve cure rates.

For eleven years, USAID has supported strong emergency relief programs through organizations like Care, Save the Children, UNICEF, the International Rescue Committee and others. In anticipation of peace, USAID has begun to shift emphasis from providing humanitarian and emergency relief to working with the SPLM on revitalizing and rebuilding southern Sudan. The initiation of the new health transformation program will begin to shift health care delivery from emergency health care delivery to building a sustainable health care system managed and operated by Sudanese.

The U.S. Agency for International Development is committed to preventing suffering, saving lives, and creating a better future for families globally and in Sudan in particular. Many health challenges are facing southern Sudan today, including:

• Improving maternal and child health through routine immunizations, polio eradication, growth monitoring, and diarrhea and pneumonia care.
• Prevention and control of infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis - as you know, in southern Sudan, malaria is the number one cause of children's death and sickness!
• Providing family planning, and reproductive health interventions so mothers and children are healthier and families are better able to feed, clothe, and educate their children.
• Fighting against the HIV/AIDS crisis which threatens the prosperity, stability, and development of all nations but is particularly challenging for Sudan which is embarking on the new endeavor of nation building. May Sudan never suffer as some other countries have suffered from AIDS

Allan reed, the USAID mission director, has touched on the components of the new health transformation program. Let me assure you that the entire U.S. Government is firmly behind improving the health of Sudanese women, children and families. USAID is ready to work with you in partnership with John Snow, International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to build Sudanese capacity to improve health.

I am so looking forward to learning more about Sudan on my field visits to Twic and Yei counties to better understand the enormous challenges of rebuilding your health care system.

Many of you have lived through very difficult times; but this is an exciting time. With the challenges of rebuilding, the future looks bright for the new Sudan. The United States government is committed to improving life for southern Sudanese and working with the SPLM to build an improved health care system for the new Sudan.

Thank you for inviting me here today to launch this new partnership!