A total of 946 residents of Juba County in South Sudan received free healthcare services from Rwandan peacekeepers during a two-day medical outreach aimed at improving access to treatment in underserved communities.
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The outreach, which concluded on October 15, was conducted by Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in collaboration with Rwanda&039;s Formed Police Unit and Society for Family Health South Sudan.
Held at Luri-Rokwe Primary Health Care Unit, the exercise brought together personnel from Rwanda's RWANBATT-1 and RWANBATT-3 contingents to provide medical consultations, treatment and medicines to residents of Luri-Rokwe and surrounding areas.
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Services covered communicable and non-communicable diseases, including eye and dental conditions, hypertension, diabetes and hygiene-related illnesses. The medical team also provided antenatal care and general consultations.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, South Sudan&039;s Director General in the Ministry of Health, Dr James Wanyi Tom, thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers for their contribution to the well-being of local communities.
He said the area faced healthcare challenges, including shortages of medicines and medical personnel, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to working with Rwandan peacekeepers in military operations and civil-military activities that benefit residents.
Lt Col Maurice Kayinamura, Deputy Contingent Commander of RWANBATT-3, thanked the Ministry of Health, the medical team and the community for their participation.
He reaffirmed Rwanda's commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and improving access to healthcare, adding that Rwandan peacekeepers would continue supporting community health initiatives throughout their mission.
One of the beneficiaries, Abalo Yunis, said she was grateful for the free treatment, explaining that she and her children had been unwell for months.
She encouraged the peacekeepers to continue supporting vulnerable residents and pledged continued cooperation with them.
Beyond treatment, the medical team raised awareness about Ebola symptoms and preventive measures amid concerns about outbreaks in the region.
The medical outreach forms part of the Rwandan peacekeepers' civil-military activities in South Sudan, which include supporting vulnerable populations and strengthening relations with communities in their area of responsibility.