South Sudan
About our Work
Nearly 13 million people live in South Sudan, over half of whom have been displaced due to civil war and are dependent on humanitarian assistance. The health system in South Sudan is also very weak with limited infrastructure, a fragile supply chain, high turnover, a serious lack of adequately trained health workers, safety threats to health service providers, and lack of funding. With a population that is moving continuously, either due to forced displacement or in search of safer living conditions, building a successful health system is especially challenging.
Each year, an estimated 456 children are born with clubfoot in South Sudan. In addition to new cases, there is a significant backlog of untreated and neglected children due to prolonged conflict, limited health infrastructure, and widespread poverty. Access to orthopedic services especially clubfoot treatment remains extremely limited, making early treatment difficult for many families across the country.
For several years, the Usratuna Rehabilitation Centre in Juba, operated by OVCI la Nostra Famiglia, was the only facility in South Sudan providing clubfoot treatment using the Ponseti Method. In 2019, MiracleFeet, in collaboration with the Uganda Clubfoot Program, supported a comprehensive clubfoot capacity strengthening initiative at Usratuna rehabilitation Centre. Clinical staff received Africa Clubfoot Training (ACT) and CAST training to improve treatment quality and standardization. Parent education was introduced to strengthen adherence to treatment protocols and reduce relapse. In addition, a South Sudanese surgeon from Juba National Teaching Hospital was trained to perform tenotomies locally, strengthening in-country surgical capacity.
In 2023, following strategic engagement between MiracleFeet, OVCI and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), ICRC integrated clubfoot treatment into its existing physical rehabilitation program in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. This marked an important shift toward broader health system integration. Through this partnership, Wau Teaching Hospital in Western Bahr el Ghazal State became the second site in South Sudan offering clubfoot services, expanding access beyond the capital and strengthening decentralization of care.
In 2025, following further discussions with ICRC and continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health, services were expanded to Rumbek in Lakes State, establishing it as the third facility in the country providing clubfoot treatment. This expansion represents a significant step toward improving geographic equity and strengthening rehabilitation service coverage in underserved regions.
The South Sudan program now focuses on expanding geographic access, strengthening clinical capacity, and improving referral pathways between communities and health facilities. Close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and rehabilitation stakeholders continues to support institutional ownership and long-term sustainability. The program is steadily strengthening South Sudan’s capacity to deliver sustainable, locally led clubfoot care within its national health system.
