𝗕𝘆 𝗔𝗸 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝘀, Juba, South Sudan

Tuesday, March 30, 2021 (PW) — Today at 4PM, I saw a text in our Anataban WhatsApp group that said; “Emergency, Trisha C has been involved in a bad accident her legs are badly damaged we need blood group A+ now at Juba teaching”. I said, “I wish I could help but I’m O+”.

I was told that I can actually donate to her. I rushed to Juba teaching Hospital and saw Many people around her but no work happening. It’s due to this that Menimen & Manasseh who first came to her rescue decided to transfer her to a real hospital.

As we went to Peace Orthopedic hospital, 4 more people joined us to donate to her blood. We reached the hospital and friends and family started walking in. We did small fundraising amongst us and we were able to kick off the bills.

Now, we were told to go to the Blood bank and donate the blood. Manasseh, Maboto, Samira, Nicole, shamalee and I jumped in the car all ready to give her blood. We reached the blood bank and we were told they were closed. The doctors went home. Yes you heard me right; The blood bank was closed but bars are working 24/7.

We went to Juba teaching hospital and we met this lady at the blood donation point. The slowest and least effective doctor you will ever find. She tested my blood & Maboto’s blood too. She refused to take blood from the other 3 gals who were compatible (Apparently Women are not allowed to donate blood in this country).

We needed 3 units of blood so we convinced her to atleast take blood from one woman and two men.

I gave my blood first. Meanwhile Trisha C is in the hospital still conscious and in a lot of pain and running out of blood. After she received my blood, the doctor asked us to go back to the hospital and bring the patient’s blood to see if it’s compatible. At the same time, she refused to take my friends blood because he hasn’t eaten.

We are stuck at the hospital with one unit of blood, 4 more donors, a friend bleeding out at the hospital but the doctor wants my friend to eat first. I gazed in surprise wondering if this woman knows an emergency

At 7PM, (yes we wasted 3 hours waiting for our own blood to be given to our friend). My blood was finally taken to the Hospital and put in her. 20 mins later, I got a call saying that it was too late. She bled out. My body froze. I have never cried like this in a long time.

We fought for almost 4 hours only to realize that we were the only ones fighting. If the doctors had fought as much as we did or even half, she would still be with us. She gave us enough time to rescue her. Every South Sudanese artist I know showed up, big media personnel joined the fight. Friends and family. We brought blood, money, comfort, love but Juba teaching Hospital brought Poor services, Blood bank went home when we needed them, the medical system failed her, the government brought incompetence.

We rushed back to the hospital where she died from, the situation was not controllable. I thought I was the only one that loved this gal. This gal was loved by so many people. People right there to help. I was so confused. Menimen who spent the whole 4 hours walking around taking lead at the hospital was now leaning against the wall, looking so beaten and broken.

Her mother walked out of the hospital and said; “Thank you boys”. I couldn’t feel my feet. I sat down and cried because if the Blood bank was open, Trisha C’s mother would have said “Thank You” as she goes back home with her healthy daughter but they decided to go back home at 4PM so another woman went back home with a lifeless body of her Only Child.

If the government checked Water tank drivers to see if they are fit for the road, Trisha C wouldn’t have gotten into an accident but they are too busy checking for log books and Tinted windows.

We left two bags of blood at Juba teaching hospital but tomorrow another South Sudanese will die because of lack of blood. This blood is kept and given to the rich people on time. I told my friends that I want to go back to the hospital and take the blood and keep it and bring it in time when anybody ever needs it.

I wana thank every single person that showed up at the hospital and stood by her family in this trying time. Those that contributed to the bills, those that donated blood, those that prayed for her. The list is long, I appreciate you guys.

Dear SPLM and Government of South Sudan. You have failed. Just let go. We are dying. The young generation is dying everyday coz of your incompetence

My dear sister Trisha Cee, we loved you, we fought for you but your government didn’t fight for you. Your government didn’t love you. The doctors you paid with your taxes went home when you needed them. Rest in Power my legend. I will always love you. I would donate thousands of liters of blood over & over to see you again. I love you fam 🙏🏿

#RIPTrisha

Doctors deserve better than this: I can’t blame South Sudanese Doctors But the failed R-TGoNU

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Confession from one of the Drs. at Juba Teaching Hospital to one of his colleagues in Dar El Salam.

Dear Dr. Charles, South Sudanese doctors who are here on the ground are frustrated and most of them surrendered to the current harsh living conditions. We are busy with our private Clinics to survive since our house officers are working for free, medical officers and getting 4000SSP ( around 6.5 USD), that comes every 4 to 6 months, consultants are getting 6000 -7000 (10 USD).

some are on contracts since independence. The Hospital running cost is 160,000 SSP (250 USD) that comes every 6 months with the salary. HPF is providing drugs that are meant to be for 3 months while they are actually a consumption of one to two weeks ( push system that brings unnecessary items more than lifesaving drugs).

What do the public expects from such a health care system?. How can we convince our Health personnel to stay in the Hospital while their children have nothing to eat at home ?. How can we convince them to come daily and on time while some are living in Gure, Jabel Dinka , Sharikat and new site and they don’t have any means of transportation or money to pay to transport themselves?.

If there’s someone to answer this questions and others which are not mentioned here then it will be easier for us to fix what has gone wrong.
We had two sad stories in 2018 when a doctor collapsed with hypoglycemia because he was on duty and couldn’t had money to buy something to eat.

The other was my personal story with a doctor who happened to be a resident of new site, he usually comes late to our morning meetings in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

He was a humble and caring junior Doctor but he always comes late. One day I asked him why is he always coming late, he told me that he has no money to pay for transportation, he use to come footing every day from new site and he can not go out very early fearing criminals along Bilpam road.

We are in real dilemma, only God knows when this myths will be fixed.

God bless South Sudan!

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