Midwifery school: Life for mothers and children in South Sudan

Background information

According to UNICEF, 62 out of 1,000 babies in South Sudan die in their first year of life. In comparison: in Switzerland, this figure is four out of every 1,000 children (as of 2018).

The need for trained midwives is therefore great. The midwifery school of our partner organization PRDA was founded in 2005 in the city of Leer. In spring 2014, the school relocated to northern Kenya due to the civil war. Construction of the midwifery school in Juba began in 2022. The newly built school in Juba was finally opened in 2023.

As part of a three-year training course, qualified midwives are trained there to accompany women during pregnancy and childbirth, prevent problems and treat complications. There is a fundamental demand for training in the health sector in South Sudan. Prevention activities, including vaccinations, are also important in order to reduce the spread of diseases. The trained midwives inform women about reproductive health.

Project goals

The project trains professional midwives. They care for women during pregnancy as well as during and after birth and give the newborns a good start in life.

The overall goal of the project is to support mothers and children. The trained midwives provide women of childbearing age with knowledge regarding hygiene as well as reproductive health and family planning issues. At the same time, women and infants have better access to medical care.

Target group

The project benefits the wider population in South Sudan, as the midwives remain in the health sector after completing their training and either teach with the international organization "Community Midwives" or continue their studies. In any case, it benefits women throughout South Sudan, whether in camps for internally displaced persons or in refugee camps outside the country, where there is also a great need for trained midwives. The Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency (PRDA) recruits students from all regions of South Sudan, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Activities

• Theoretical and practical training of women to become state-certified midwives
• Carrying out vaccination campaigns for infants and expectant mothers as well as women who have recently given birth during the practical training period (midwives must attend at least 50 births during their training in order to graduate)
• Purchase of teaching materials and work clothes
• Accommodation and meals for students and teaching staff
• Support for the alumni network

Project progress

In 2025, our partner organization was able to carry out further expansions to the school building in Juba, which had been inaugurated in 2023. Water stations for washing, a storage area for the kitchen, and a security room were installed. The main gate was replaced and the school grounds were paved. The school was able to accommodate and provide meals for 59 boarding students. In addition, a 32-seat school bus was purchased.

The school’s recognition within the country is particularly gratifying. The South Sudanese Ministry of Health accredited and certified the school. The midwifery school signed agreements with partner hospitals to ensure clinical training for its students.

In the 2025 national final exam, 55 out of 59 students passed; the remaining four were able to take a makeup exam. The 59 graduates received their diplomas at the graduation ceremony on December 12, 2025; they will play an important role in reducing the country’s still exceptionally high maternal and infant mortality rates.

As the project moves forward, the project leaders are focusing on two key areas: the selection of new students will be made even more transparent in collaboration with local churches. And the close cooperation with the Ministry of Health to ensure compliance with established guidelines has proven successful and will continue.