Fan-Led Healthcare Drive in Juba
Arsenal supporters in the South Sudanese capital have launched a fresh fundraiser to buy oxygen cylinders for Al Shabab Children’s Hospital and Juba Teaching Hospital, merging football passion with lifesaving needs.
Football Rivalry Fuels Charity Spirit
The initiative peaks during a friendly match pitting Arsenal against Liverpool devotees at Buluk Playground. Organisers say tomorrow’s encounter channels competitive energy into generosity, inviting every resident to contribute, regardless of club loyalty.
“This match is more than sport; it is a rally for oxygen,” organiser Sarah Kiko explained, noting previous drives that supplied six cylinders and fifteen beds. “Even small donations translate into breath for children,” she added.
Measurable Impact on Pediatric Care
Al Shabab staff report that added cylinders increased intensive-care capacity and cut mortality rates. According to Kiko, current inventory stands at eight units, a figure she hopes to double through tomorrow’s collections.
Community, Unity and Future Goals
Beyond fundraising, organisers promote football as a path for youth development. Kiko urges parents to let children play and learn teamwork, discipline and civic duty—values she believes strengthen nation-building in a recovering South Sudan.
Previous campaigns in 2020 paired donations with hospital clean-ups, offering a template for future fan-driven projects such as blood drives and mobile clinics, organisers revealed. “Grass-roots action shows ordinary citizens can bolster healthcare,” Kiko told The Dawn Newspaper.