South Sudan has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative in bolstering its mortality surveillance system by enhancing the capacities of health workers through training. The aim is to improve the collection of accurate disease data, enhance reporting and completeness, and streamline health services, ultimately informing health outcomes.

World Health Organization (WHO), with funding from the World Bank, has supported the Ministry of Health to roll out its first-ever training of trainers on the Medical Certification of Cause of Death, coding of diagnosis of cause of death using the Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11), and Verbal Autopsy Systems.  A total of 35 medical doctors and data personnel representing all the state hospitals from the Ministry of Health were trained on the tool. 

ICD11 is a global tool recommended by WHO that is used to obtain critical knowledge on the extent, causes, and consequences of human disease and death. It allows for the systematic recording, analysis, interpretation, and comparison of mortality and morbidity data. The data obtained using ICD11 will inform health policies, shape research priorities, and guide interventions in South Sudan.

Honorable Dr Harriet Pasquale Akello, Undersecretary, Minister of Health, said due to insufficient information on deaths and causes of death resulting from challenges in documentation, understanding and addressing the underlying causes of death has been hampered. “Knowing the numbers and causes of deaths is central to evidence-based decision-making,” said Dr Akello. “With information on death and its cause, the health sector can target interventions to areas where they are needed most in order to reduce death.” 

South Sudan faces several challenges, including disease outbreaks and other public health events such as hunger, flooding, and insecurity. Disease outbreaks, inadequate health services, and high rates of malnutrition are just a few of the hurdles in the country and have increased deaths in the communities.  

Weak mortality surveillance systems have rendered it difficult to effectively document events of public health concerns, including resulting death and its causes, complicating health authorities' decision-making process on key interventions. 

Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative, South Sudan said ICD-11 is crucial for improving health outcomes, guiding policy, and planning interventions that will better serve the people of South Sudan. “With accurate death certification, we are able to understand disease trends and patterns, identify emerging health challenges, and ensure that resources are directed to where they are most needed,” said Dr Karamagi “By adopting ICD-11, South Sudan aligns itself with a global standard that will improve the accuracy of disease data, enhance reporting, and streamline health services towards improving health outcomes."
 

Technical contacts:
Dr. Paula Awel Valerio 
Mrs. Mamo Anaba