Shoukry inaugurates dialysis unit gifted to Juba Hospital

CAIRO – 13 March 2018: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry inaugurated on Monday the dialysis unit Egypt offered to the Juba Teaching Hospital in South Sudan.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abou Zeid said that school and university students welcomed Shoukry in a great ceremony. South Sudan’s Minister of Health Riek Gai Kok and other officials attended the inauguration ceremony.



The inaugurated unit includes two dialysis units and a water treatment unit. Shoukry stressed upon Egypt's intention to increase the number of dialysis units in the hospital up to eight units in the forthcoming phase.

The unit will be operated starting April by an Egyptian delegation for two months during which a South Sudanese medical staff will be trained to operate the unit, Shoukry promised.

Shoukry also referred to sending a medical convoy to Wau city in South Sudan, at the request of Kok, Abou Zeid said. The convoy will consist of ophthalmology and fistula treatment specialists, he added.

Shoukry embarked on a short African tour Monday to South Sudan and Kenya in order to boost bilateral relationships with the two African states and discuss various regional topics of mutual interest.

Shoukry started his African tour by visiting Juba, where he met with President Salva Kiir Mayardit to deliver a message from President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. The presidential message aimed at boosting mutual cooperation, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Moreover, Shoukry met with South Sudan’s Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomoro to review efforts to restore stability in South Sudan.

Shoukry also delivered the logistic assistance offered by Egypt to South Sudan; Egypt Today could not get further information about the logistic assistance offered.

On February 20, President Sisi received Mayik Aye Deng, South Sudan’s minister of presidential affairs and special envoy of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, in Cairo. Shoukry and Acting General Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel also attended the meeting with Deng.

Sisi and Deng tackled various recent developments, including the recent political developments in Juba and the exerted efforts to restore order and stability in South Sudan, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said.

“Deng expressed his country’s recognition of the role Egypt played in restoring order in South Sudan in light of the historical relationship between the two countries,” manifested Radi.

South Sudan has been suffering a civil war for five years; tens of thousands were killed, while millions were displaced as the country plunged into famine.

Cairo hosted a three-day meeting with the South Sudan People's Liberation Movement on November 13 at the headquarters of the Egyptian Intelligence Service, which witnessed the signing of a political agreement between South Sudan's rivals.

The agreement was signed under the auspices of President Sisi and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Signing the agreement was deemed a crucial step towards a permanent ceasefire in South Sudan ahead of the renewed peace talks that took place in early February in Ethiopia.

Sixteen people have been killed, including three children, since South Sudan's ceasefire started, reported monitors.

As Kenya will be Shoukry's second African destination, Abou Zeid pointed out that Shoukry is scheduled to meet with the Kenyan president. Shoukry will convey President Sisi's message to the Kenyan president, aiming at strengthening bilateral relationships between the two countries.

“Shoukry will meet with his Kenyan counterpart and the minister of defense as well,” Abou Zeid added.

Additional reporting by Nawal Sayed