Festive Surge Tests Hospital Resilience
Juba Teaching Hospital’s accident and emergency department handled 162 patients between 24 and 25 December, stretching staff and supplies.
Assistant Medical Director Dr Micheal Yoana Tangun said the influx began on Christmas Eve and peaked after midnight mass services.
Road Crashes Lead the List
Hospital records show 70 cases on 24 December, mostly road-traffic injuries involving motorcycles and minibuses.
Christmas Day added almost 100 more victims, including the only fatality, a passenger hurt in a collision on the Juba-Yei road.
Assault Cases Highlight Social Strain
Doctors also treated stab wounds, panga cuts and bruises linked to club disputes and family gatherings.
‘Some patients came straight from social venues,’ Dr Tangun noted, stressing the role of alcohol in many altercations.
Numbers Show Marginal Progress
Despite the rush, this year’s caseload is down from more than 180 treated during the 2024 festive period.
Public safety campaigns and increased traffic police patrols may have contributed, according to hospital analysts.
Health Officials Urge Prevention
Staff worked double shifts, yet supplies held; still, administrators call for proactive measures to ease future peaks.
‘Avoid speeding, limit alcohol, and seek help early,’ Dr Tangun advised, urging communities to keep emergency lines clear during holidays.