JUBA, South Sudan – Telecommunications giant MTN South Sudan has launched its annual 21 Days of Y’ello Care Campaign at Juba Teaching Hospital, unveiling a range of healthcare interventions aimed at improving maternal and child health services while strengthening critical medical infrastructure.
The 2026 campaign, themed “Expanding Equitable Healthcare for Communities,” will focus on solarizing the hospital’s neonatal ward, repairing a non-functional CT scan machine, supporting maternal healthcare services, and introducing digital health communication tools to improve patient care.
Speaking during the launch on Monday, MTN South Sudan Chief Executive Officer Mapula Bodibe said the company selected maternal and child healthcare as its focus area due to the significant challenges facing mothers and newborns across the country.
“South Sudan has one of the highest maternal health challenges in the world. When you empower communities by ensuring mothers and children are well taken care of, you build a stronger future for the country,” Bodibe said.
She noted that the partnership between MTN and Juba Teaching Hospital is designed to address both healthcare and technology gaps that continue to affect service delivery.
A key component of the initiative will be the installation of a dedicated solar power backup system for the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply for incubators and other life-saving medical equipment.
“We realized that power instability remains a challenge. Reliable electricity is essential in the neonatal unit where newborn babies depend on life-saving equipment. The solar solution will provide a dependable backup source of power,” Bodibe explained.
The telecommunications company will also fund repairs to the hospital’s CT scan machine, which has been out of service for nearly five months. The breakdown has forced patients to seek diagnostic services from private hospitals at significantly higher costs.
In addition, MTN plans to roll out voice-based health messaging and SMS platforms that will provide expectant mothers with reminders on antenatal appointments, medication schedules, and other essential healthcare information.
To encourage broader community participation, MTN has established a public donation line through its mobile money platform, allowing customers and members of the public to contribute directly toward supporting healthcare services at the hospital.
“All proceeds collected through the donation line will be handed over to the hospital to support healthcare services,” Bodibe said.
Welcoming the initiative, Director General of Juba Teaching Hospital, Dr. Gift Gibson Natana, described the campaign as a timely intervention that will help bridge critical gaps in healthcare delivery.
“We are grateful that MTN selected the health sector this year. The support will not only strengthen maternal and child healthcare but will also improve diagnostic services through the repair of the CT scan machine,” he said.
Dr. Natana noted that the prolonged breakdown of the CT scanner has placed a heavy burden on patients, particularly vulnerable citizens who rely on affordable public healthcare services.
“There are other CT scan machines available in Juba, but they are in private hospitals and are much more expensive. Many of our patients cannot afford those costs,” he said.
He emphasized that CT scan technology plays a crucial role in diagnosing trauma injuries, internal bleeding, fractures, tumors, and other complex medical conditions.
“Road traffic accidents are common, and CT scans help doctors identify the exact location and extent of injuries. Without this equipment, healthcare workers are forced to rely on less detailed alternatives such as X-rays, which can limit diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. Natana explained.
The hospital chief also underscored the significance of the planned solar backup system, noting that even brief power outages can place premature babies in incubators at serious risk.
“A dedicated solar system will ensure continuous operation of incubators and other life-saving equipment, even when the hospital experiences power outages,” he said.
According to Dr. Natana, the interventions are expected to improve healthcare quality, enhance diagnostic capabilities, and reduce preventable deaths linked to infrastructure and equipment shortages.
The 21 Days of Y’ello Care Campaign is the flagship employee volunteerism programme of MTN Group and is implemented annually across the company’s operating markets in Africa.
In South Sudan, this year’s campaign aims to leverage technology, innovation, and partnerships to improve access to healthcare services, particularly for mothers, newborns, and vulnerable communities.
Dr. Natana encouraged pregnant women and members of the public to take advantage of the new health communication services that will be introduced through the initiative.
“Juba Teaching Hospital belongs to the people of South Sudan. We appreciate MTN for standing with us and helping us improve services for the communities we serve,” he said.
The campaign will run for 21 days, bringing together MTN employees, healthcare workers, and community members in activities designed to strengthen healthcare delivery at South Sudan’s largest public referral hospital.
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