South Sudan on Sunday announced its first confirmed coronavirus infection, a United Nations staff member, becoming one the last African countries to confirm the virus. But, years of civil war and low funding have left the world’s youngest nation with a fragile healthcare system, raising fears that the virus – if left unchecked – could quickly spread. Sheila Ponnie reports from Juba.
Wheelchair basketball is growing in popularity in South Sudan, offering hope for athletes with disabilities, some of whom lost legs from unexploded ordnance left from decades of conflict
Wheelchair basketball is growing in popularity in South Sudan, offering hope for athletes with disabilities, some of whom lost legs from unexploded ordnance left from decades of conflict. U.S. professional wheelchair basketball players, including Sudanese American Malat Wei, this month helped eighty South Sudanese players take part in a week-long training program and tournament, as Sheila Ponnie reports from Juba.
UNMAS expects to clear all remaining minefields, cluster munitions, and battlefields by 2026
As South Sudan slowly stabilizes after decades of conflict, the world's youngest nation continues to fight a battle against illiteracy. South Sudan has the lowest literacy rate in world -- just 27 percent of the adult population can read and write. To combat the problem, authorities have been launching thousands of adult education centers across the country, as Sheila Ponnie reports from Juba.
As South Sudan slowly stabilizes after decades of conflict, the world's youngest nation continues to fight a battle against illiteracy. South Sudan has the lowest literacy rate in world - just 27 percent of the adult population can read and write. To combat the problem, authorities have been launching thousands of adult education centers. Sheila Ponnie reports from Juba.
Due to years of conflict and poor environmental conditions, the infectious disease appears to be gaining a new foothold in the country
In the past decade, the world has seen significant advances toward eliminating malaria infection, and death. But in some regions progress has slowed, says the World Health Organization. Sheila Ponnie reports from South Sudan where, due to years of conflict and poor environmental conditions, malaria may be gaining a new foothold.
In South Sudan, a group of men and boys is trying to break cultural taboos on a topic that often drives young girls out of school — menstruation. Men4Women is distributing menstrual pads to girls while also encouraging boys and men to engage in conversations and advocate policies that make sanitary hygiene products more accessible to girls. Sheila Ponnie reports from Juba.
Luol Deng plans to build a basketball academy in battle-scarred South Sudan
South Sudan celebrates a rare advance in technology this month as it launched a nationwide system for mobile money transfers