Aweil North Commissioner suspends four health workers over alleged drug theft

AWEIL – The Commissioner of Aweil North County in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has indefinitely suspended four health workers over allegations that they diverted and sold medical drugs meant for public health facilities.

Commissioner Deng Kuel Kuel told this publication that the suspension was ordered after the workers allegedly failed to account for a consignment of medicines intended to serve county health facilities for three months. He said the decision was taken to enforce accountability and deter similar misconduct within the local health system.

“I have instructed the County Health Department director to suspend the four health workers who went away with medical supplies that were meant for our local health facilities,” Kuel said. “I gave them sufficient time to return the drugs, but they failed to do so.”

According to the commissioner, some of the missing supplies are suspected to have been diverted to private pharmacies or sold in local markets. He warned that if the health workers do not return the drugs, the matter will be escalated to the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Health for further action.

“What will happen is that if they do not bring back the supplies, especially as some are said to be operating private pharmacies or selling in markets, then the state Ministry of Health will take over the case,” he added.

Kuel declined to disclose the identities of the suspended workers but confirmed that they are employees under the county health system. He accused them of prioritising personal enrichment at the expense of public service, linking such behaviour to broader frustrations within the health sector.

He noted that delays in salary payments—often blamed on funding gaps from international partners such as UNICEF—have contributed to growing dissatisfaction among health workers. However, he stressed that financial challenges do not justify theft or misuse of essential medical supplies.

“Some health practitioners are thinking beyond normal professional conduct,” Kuel said. “The delays caused by limited funding are making some people think and act in unacceptable ways.”

The commissioner also rejected allegations that he personally sold the county ambulance designated for emergency referrals to the state hospital. He described the claims as politically motivated, insisting that the ambulance remains in good condition and is currently stationed at the Ministry of Health premises.

The suspensions come amid lingering tensions in the state’s health sector. Last month, health workers in Northern Bahr el Ghazal reportedly threatened to stage a strike over unpaid wages and poor working conditions.

The planned industrial action was later halted after state officials, including the minister of health, intervened and urged workers to remain on duty, warning that a strike would have disastrous consequences for vulnerable communities.

The latest incident underscores ongoing governance and accountability challenges in South Sudan’s fragile health system, where limited resources, funding delays, and oversight gaps continue to strain service delivery.