Indian peacekeepers in S Sudan lauded for renovating dilapdiated health institute

Indian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan have been lauded for their efforts to renovate a health institute in the war-ravaged nation's town, enabling crucial medical training to resume at the centre.

The Jonglei Health Institute located in Bor had been out of service for five years after being vandalised and abandoned when the conflict broke out in December 2013.

The Bor hospital too had been left abandoned but has long since reopened. However the health institute remained shuttered.

A report from UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said that following a request from the South Sudanese government, the UN and the Indian peacekeepers carried out extensive repairs of the facilities, including its water supply system, generator and lighting, putting in place essential infrastructure necessary to provide medical services.

At the end of the month, the health facility will start training 40 recruits to become nurses, midwives and other clinical staff.

Attending a ceremony at the Institute, local resident Joyce Akol welcomed the re-opening of the health institute.

"It opens an opportunity for me and many of my friends to get trained as health personnel and acquire skills that can provide us with a livelihood and employment, in the main hospital here or anywhere in the country," she said, adding: "It also indicates that slowly, peace is returning to our country."