4 January 2014 - Civilians at the UNMISS Bentiu base seeking protection from South Sudanese violence have been receiving life-saving medical care from a UNICEF doctor’s field health clinic.

Dr. Monday Kato has been running the makeshift facility since 21 December, supported by UNMISS staff and volunteers with medical background living at the internally displaced person (IDP) camp.

Some of the volunteers are community health workers, while others are clinical officers like Deng Garang. According to Mr. Deng, who said his only motivation is to help people, a doctor is like an apostle of God.

“I remember one case,” the clinician said. “There is a lady in the camp with a fracture in her arm … caused by a gunshot. She came some 10 days ago with a one-year-old baby also wounded by gun shots. The baby died but she has been recovering.”

In a 7-day period between 23 and 30 December, Dr. Monday’s clinic registered 1,338 patients. The majority suffered from upper respiratory infections, followed by illnesses like urinary tract infections and malaria. Three babies have also been delivered at the base.

Highly contagious measles cases are currently major worry. Three children are already suffering from the disease.

Dr. Monday obtained measles vaccinations from UNICEF and is planning to vaccinate 3,250 children under the age of 15 beginning 5 January. He will train IDP volunteers to conduct vaccinations.

One of the patients, Agang Yel, had bullet wounds between her ribs and in the arm. She was unable to sleep or eat due to the pain.

“Then I came to the clinic and the doctor gave me medicine,” Ms. Yel said. “Now I feel much better. I can sleep and eat.”

Another patient with a spear wound, Maynag Mich, was suffering from pain and drowsiness. Now that the doctor has given he medicine the pain has lessened.

“The medical staff took good care of me,” said Ms. Mich. “I lost my baby who was also wounded, but I saw the doctor tried very hard to help him and I appreciate it a lot.”

The clinic was initially set up in a community tent. It has now been moved to a UNICEF tent obtained from Bentiu Hospital when security for movement around the town had improved.