IOM South Sudan has officially opened a new primary health care clinic at the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in Malakal, Upper Nile State, where nearly 48,000 South Sudanese are seeking shelter and protection.The clinic provides a safe space for IOM health staff to conduct general health care services for approximately 7,200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering in Sector 2 of the PoC site.With a five-bed maternity ward, the clinic also offers reproductive health care services, including antenatal and postnatal care, family planning and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.As part of routine services, health staff provide immunizations against common diseases for children less than five years of age and pregnant and lactating mothers.With more than 1.66 million people internally displaced across South Sudan, emergency health operations such as these remain critical as displacement, overcrowding, poor hygiene practices, seasonal disease outbreaks and chronic exposure to violence continue to increase health risks for IDPs of all ages.
