Summary of needs
In 2024, partners have responded to multiple concurrent disease outbreaks, including measles, yellow fever, poliovirus, meningitis, hepatitis E and cholera. The ongoing conflict and disease outbreaks in Sudan put South Sudan at risk of imported cases. Malaria remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, often exacerbated by frequent flooding. The 2024 ISNA found only 57 per cent of the population with access to the nearest health facility in less than an hour, while 44 per cent cited long distance as a barrier to accessing health care. Women and girls in remote and crisis-affected areas face challenges in accessing maternal, sexual and reproductive health services. While the Health Sector Transformation Programme (HSTP) is currently supporting 50 per cent of functional health facilities, 18 per cent are non-functional. The July 2024 GBV health analysis revealed only 28 per cent of health facilities provide GBV care, with 43 per cent offering services. Lower-level facilities struggle with staffing and infrastructure, limiting early intervention to referrals.
Health Sectoral People in Needs 2025
Health Sectoral Severity of Needs 2025
Health Sectoral People Targeted 2025
Response strategy:
In 2025, the cluster will contribute to building a resilient health system capable of meeting both immediate and long-term needs in line with the 2016-2026 South Sudan National Health Policy and 2023-2027 Health Sector Strategic Plan. Essential health services will be delivered in a complementary manner across static facilities, mobile teams and community health outreach. Coordination will be strengthened at national and sub-national levels through technical working groups and a multisectoral approach, integrating efforts with Nutrition, WASH and FSL clusters. Localization efforts will build local organization capacity for a sustainable response. Key priorities for 2025 include expanding essential primary health care, improving immunization, strengthening capacity for sexual and reproductive health response, pre-positioning medical supplies, enhancing emergency referral services, implementing the Health Cluster GBV Action Plan and supporting the 2024-2028 South Sudan MHPSS Strategic Plan. The Health Cluster will integrate clinical management of rape into health care services.
Malakal County, Upper Nile State
A midwife checks on the progress of a new born in labour ward at the IMC clinic 1 in the Malakal POC site.
OCHA/Sarah WaiswaTargeting and prioritization
The cluster targets vulnerable people in conflict- and flood-affected areas identified by the District Health Information System, initial rapid needs assessments and IPC classifications. Response prioritization considers factors contributing to community vulnerability, including limited health care facilities, access barriers, health facility functionality, flood impacts, and returnee and IDP caseloads. The response strategy aligns with the HSTP and integrates community consultations through the ISNA. Continuous feedback mechanisms, joint supportive supervision, quarterly reviews and regular monitoring visits will enable the cluster to adapt to changing needs, focusing resources on the most critical areas.
Promoting accountable and inclusive programming
Community consultations, including with women, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities, will shape project design and inform interventions in health care access, GBV and mental health support. Community feedback mechanisms such as hotlines, suggestion boxes and health facility committees will monitor service effectiveness, while community representatives help ensure transparency and accountability.