8 July 2014- To help store blood for patients in need, President Salva Kiir inaugurated a new National Public Health Laboratory, Blood Bank and Diagnostic Center in Juba today.

The laboratory, worth about 16 million South Sudanese pounds, is expected to accommodate more than 1000 litres of blood.

It was constructed with funding from the Global Fund and other development partners.

The President also laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Dr. John Garang Diagnostic and Medical Center.

The facility will handle medical procedures that would previously require patients to travel abroad, the president said.

“As we move forward along the path of providing services to our people, let us remember and bear in our hearts and our minds that there are millions of people in villages across the country who are in need of health services,” he said.

“They must not be disadvantaged compared to the urban compatriot,” President Kiir added. “You should put the people first, guarantee them longer and healthier lives and avoid the options whereby millions of pounds are squandered on referring patients abroad for lack of local facilities.”