Mayom Mabuong Marek: South Sudan

Mayom Mabuong Marek is a 2011 South Sudanese WMF Scholar studying in Uganda. Mayom studies Community Health at the Uganda Christian University. Mayom is preparing to graduate in November 2014. He passionately reports on his three months community service project in his home community in South Sudan.

Mayom Mabuong Marek works within his office space during his volunteer service in Rumbek, South Sudan

Introduction: Eagerly Working in My Community

Mayom Mabuong Marek — Bachelor of Community Health [Rumbek, South Sudan]

It is a great pleasure to present my activities to you in the field.

I have been volunteering for 3  months in the Public Health Department of Rumbek Municipality [PHDRM]; I go to Municipality six times a week, from Monday to Saturday at 9am until 5 pm. It usually take me 40—50 minutes walking to reach the Municipality place.

The public health department of Rumbek Municipality is a government organ that works in collaboration with State Ministry of Health [SMOH] public health agencies and non-governmental organizations to enhance the health of communities in Lakes State by building effective public health capacity. PHDRM is committed in generating their own money and dynamic support of health organizations dedicated to solving public health challenges in the community.

On orientation day:  Deputy Director Magok, who was a former student in primary school with me, who had only completed primary education, was the one who received my documents of internship on 30 of August for field placement. He welcomed me and I began my internship on 2^nd September, 2013.  I was officially introduced to Public Health Officers, Public Health Inspectors, Administrators and other staff in the department.

Public Health Department of Rumbek Municipality has the following essential services to the community:

• Monitor health status to identify community health problems
• Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community
• Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues
• Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
• Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts
• Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety
• Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce

Activities and Achievements

In the Public health department, I worked rotationally:

On secretarial office, I worked to fill forms like work permit, suspension/closure notice of restaurants and shops. On the leadership side, I sat in the office to see and participate in solving some cases of those who were found in the market and community who did not follow and comply with public health practices. I went to the market for one week for inspection of personal hygiene of cooks, restaurants, slaughter houses, shops, salons, and other public places. I’m gaining a lot from the experience, like learning how to solve some cases, being useful, and being part of a community.

I also served 3 times as secretary in monthly health cluster meeting for SMOH partners

Served 2 times as secretary for humanitarian coordination meeting, which was conducted at South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation commission [SSRRC] Compound, aiming at the returnees’ situation in the state. Attended by UN, NGOs and line ministers. Discussions were on Returnees – to plan for their services including shelter, transport, health, food and water.

I participated in one‐day event of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration [DDR] programme. I talked about  Malaria, its prevention and seeking of early treatment to the 300 aged ex-combatants who were demobilized from the military and brought to the state so that they will be integrated with their families.

With school work, I have been talking with upper classes from primary 5 to 8; teaching about school health in Deng Nhial Primary School for one week, this is a school of 2,300 pupils with average of 200 pupils in each class but only 8 payable teachers serving at full time and the rest are volunteer  secondary school students. I’m really excited to teach topics related to health that is good experience I got as health mentor in Deng Nhial Primary School.

I served in the team for one week with WHO and UNICEF to train payams [districts] surveillance officers in the state on case definition for epidemic prone diseases [26 priority diseases] in south Sudan, participated in developing a State Polio micro plan, establish social mobilization committee with NGOs and community leaders and communicate important information’s for all about Polio. I participated in trainings for TOTs, Independent Monitors, Team Supervisors and Senior Supervisors and supervised trainings for vaccinators.

Lastly, I was taken to Awerial County in Lakes State for a Malaria Survey by State Ministry of health for 21 days.

With Family at Home

Mayom relaxes outside of his family home in South Sudan after a long day of working.

Life in Rumbek is about togetherness in the family and community; people are very rarely seen alone as they live together. Meals are prepared and eaten with one another. Our time together at home began at 7 PM. We eat together, chat conventionally till bed time and for other days habitually sing hymnal songs in local language, pray and go to bed. It was during our hard time of civil war from 1983 to 2005 when many Christians in South Sudan composed spiritual songs of God’s adoration, and people really composed songs for God’s delivery to bring salvation and peace. My elder brother is a deacon and my mother is a pastor in the Church, so constantly, we sing songs, pray and go to bed. 

Challenges of Life in Rumbek, South Sudan

The Main Constraints include but not limited to:

Insecurity in the area

A huge number of small arms [Ak-47] are in circulation throughout Lakes State and whole South Sudan, and the fact that their owners are often traumatized by their experiences during the war, makes the security situation fraught both in the towns and in rural areas. Frequency insecurity causes by inter-communal violence in Rumbek hindered the delivery of some community services and development. Pastoral Community of Rumbek Central County who divided themselves into two groups; Rup [meaning Bush in local language] and Kuei [meaning Eagle] sections are fighting among themselves upto now making security both in rural and urban areas insecure. The problem was just the insult that Rup’s people were called monkeys of the Bush. And now the almost whole south Sudan is fighting.

I lost my 150$ monthly salary this year.

During 2010 election, Chol Tong Mayay was elected as Governor of Lakes State, during his tenure; many students including me were authorized by the Council of Ministers to go on study leave. In April this year the elected governor was removed by Presidential decree and replaced by Major General Matur Chut. This new military caretaker stated why students are allowed with salaries and education is a family project, let them sell away their cows or properties to study. This was done in August 28, 2013; announced over the radio that the government of Lakes State on the instruction of the governor has stopped payment of salaries of staff on study leave, medical leave and those on secondment to non-governmental organisations.

Note of Appreciation

The past two years have been a wonderful learning journey for me to fulfill my dream.  Although I’ve had challenging year ahead, I believe that I will progress normally to finish my course. With WMF like a honey comb when it becomes big, few bees leave the comb and settle in another place make another honey comb so it happened with WMF Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program from just one scholarship in Ghana in 2005 and now I’m part and parcel of the family and WMF is working like a spider which work laboriously on its web; got its own resources and with help of other things it will build its web. WMF is working  for me and my colleagues at their own resources and with help of others accomplished great achievements of changing the world.

I for one will expand honey comb the same way WMF’s achievement to use my skills and love of health matters I have learnt to effect change in my community. I would have not study if you hadn’t been there to support me, I will continue to work towards bringing new values to my community. WMF is a great force of happiness for many.

Together with WMF, I’m moving forward anticipating a new year to complete my Bachelor’s degree. Thank you so much for supporting me and making this learning experience possible.  When I go back to school, I will tell you and report to you all things.