2017 07 05 UNMISS level 2 hospital
Channel: UNMISS VIDEOS
Date: 2017-07-07

The UNMISS Level II Hospital in Bentiu built by the United Kingdom engineering team has been officially opened. The facility will provide medical care for over 1,800 UNMISS personnel working in a remote Protection of Civilians Site in the Unity region of South Sudan. 

The hospital will be able to treat 20 patients at a time, including up to four in intensive care. It provides an extensive range of services including an emergency department, surgical theatre, laboratory, X-ray, CT scanner and aero-medical evacuation and inpatient wards. 

With 78 medical staff, including military clinicians specialising in different fields, the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Michael Hepburn said the hospital will provide UN staff with the assurance that, if they are injured or fall ill, they will be looked after.  

The UK engineering team arrived in South Sudan earlier this year with the task of preparing the site for the hospital. The British Commanding Officer in South Sudan Lt Col Jason Ainley said it has been a long journey and that he is proud of the achievement.

The tented hospital will be replaced with a permanent structure in summer 2018. 

The UK Medical contingent will staff the hospital for 12 months and the Engineering unit has a three year commitment to the United Nation Mission in South Sudan in both Malakal and Bentiu.