South Sudan Medical Journal - August 2026

Dear Reader,

The August 2026 issue is online here; we thank all the copyeditors and reviewers who helped prepare these papers. If you are submitting a manuscript, remember to read our Author’s Guidelines first.

We are looking for volunteers to join the Editorial team. Email us if you have time and editing skills.

Editorial

Can the Ebola Zaire vaccine stop Bundigunyo virus? Edward Kenyi

RESEARCH ARTICLES
Assessment of airborne fungi in the emergency and traumatology departments of University Hospital Centre, Sidi Bel-Abbes, Algeria Derouicha Matmour, Samia Merad, Yassine Merad, Achwak Bendouida, Zoubir Belmokhtar, Zakaria Merad, Mohamed Amine Boumelik, Benali Beghdadli, Othmane Ghomari 

Maternal and nutritional factors associated with early childhood development in rural Indonesia Hadi Ashar, Mohammad Zen Rahfiludin, Sri Achadi Nugraheni, Dwi Hapsari Tjandrarini

Observed outcomes and costs of laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy in Juba, South Sudan Mayen Achiek, Jingo Faride, Mohamed Ibrahim, Abraham Mafair Kezekia, Chep C. Chep, Garang D. Nyuol, Ajak M. Dhel, George Lefteri

Stakeholders’ perspectives on determinants of health financing in South Sudan: a qualitative assessment Jonathan Majok, Gabriel Loi, Solomon Dut, Aluel Ayom, Thiey Kuethpiny, David Ngor, Sarah Nyannyot

Predictors of unsuccessful treatment outcomes among adults with pulmonary tuberculosis in a resource-limited setting Tri Agus Yuarsa, Malehah Mohd Noh, Richard Avoi, Meryl Grace Lansing, Putra Agina Widyaswara Suwaryo 

Assessment of the understanding of evidence-based medicine among undergraduate medical students in Gadarif University, Sudan Khalid Mohammed Ali, Ozaz Yagoub, Inshirah Mustafa, Tarig Fadelelmoula
 
Environmental health risks associated with open dumping practices in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia: an observational study Nawan, Septi Handayani 

Assessing the quality of health facilities providing antenatal care services in Bor, South Sudan John Thon Pandak Kuot, Shalini Ninan Cherian

Prostate cancer awareness and factors influencing screening among men at St. Francis Referral Hospital, Tanzania Theresia A. Karuhanga, Zeinabu Awardh Sharif, Antony Magoda, Philbert Madoshi 

CASE REPORTS 
Long-standing aspirated foreign body in a child complicated by pneumothorax and empyema Gawar Gel, Juma Deng, Justin Rubena

Clinical rabies in an HIV-positive pregnant mother with surviving newborn Ayol Mac Ayol

BACKCOVER: WHO: Guidelines for the management of pregnant and breastfeeding women in the context of Ebola virus disease

FRONT COVER IMAGE: The grown fungal colonies on SDA media collected from different types of samples. (Article on page 149)

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South Sudan Medical Journal
Health and Social Sciences Research Institute, Juba
South Sudan
Copyright (C) 2026 South Sudan Medical Journal All rights reserved.

c/o HIFA "Help Shape Global Guidance for Rural & Remote Health"

Guidance on Evidence-Based Healthcare Strategies 
to Serve Rural & Remote Communities

Rural and remote communities are not peripheral — they are central to the fabric of our societies.

Through the Communities of Practice for Remote and Rural Health, in collaboration with Rural Wonca, The National Center for Rural Health Professions, Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia, and Rural Doctors Network, we have developed a draft Guidance on Evidence-Based Healthcare Strategies to Serve Rural and Remote Communities.

Now, we are inviting the wider TUFH Network to help strengthen it.

This draft Guidance: 

• Brings a rural lens to global health systems 
• Focuses on access as the defining challenge in rural health 
• Addresses funding, workforce, infrastructure, culture, and equity 
• Recognizes socioeconomic overlays and preventable disease burdens 
• Highlights vulnerable groups, including Indigenous communities, women, the elderly, and people with Disabilities
• Draws on global case studies from Canada, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Ethiopia, and beyond
• Proposes actionable, adaptable strategies grounded in evidence and expert consensus

Importantly, the paper intentionally shifts away from a deficit narrative toward one that recognizes rural strengths, resilience, and community-driven solutions.

We Need Your Input

We are seeking feedback that helps us ensure this Guidance is: 

• Globally relevant across diverse rural contexts 
• Practical and implementable 
• Inclusive of LMIC realities 
• Clear in its recommendations 
• Strengthened by lived experience and frontline practice

Through the consultation survey, we are specifically inviting your reflections on: 

• Clarity of definitions (e.g., rurality, generalist workforce, access)
• Gaps in evidence or missing priority issues 
• Feasibility of implementation strategies 
• Cultural responsiveness and community engagement 
• Additional case studies or models to include 
• Areas needing further research or clarification

Your expertise — whether as a policymaker, academic, practitioner, community leader, or advocate — is essential.

We request your input in any of the following forms by April 30th.

Specific Feedback Forms (Deadline for Feedback is April 30th)

Access Draft Paper 📑<https://thenetworktufh.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=742357d7350b0bf9f9591c8ab&id=2d170bf5cf&e=95c553a647>

1. If you have any suggestions on specific content, additional references to cite existing or new information, or other updates, please fill out this form:

Guidance Document - Content Body – Fill out form 📝<https://thenetworktufh.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=742357d7350b0bf9f9591c8ab&id=ff3084197e&e=95c553a647>

2. If you have any specific information that can be used to include solutions and successes that could better reflect rural realities for each of the document sections, please fill out this form:

Guidance on evidence-based healthcare strategies to serve rural and remote communities. – Fill out form 📝<https://thenetworktufh.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=742357d7350b0bf9f9591c8ab&id=392220cca9&e=95c553a647>

3. If you have specific lessons from regions that can be included in the Guidance Document, please fill out this form:

Guidance Document - Lessons Learned from Different Regions – Fill out form 📝
<https://thenetworktufh.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=742357d7350b0bf9f9591c8ab&id=de2ab21951&e=95c553a647>

4. If you have specific evidence that can be used to describe the relative contribution of patient factors and access factors in rural disease, please fill out this form:

Evidence-based relative contribution of patient and access factors for rural disease – Fill out form 📝<https://thenetworktufh.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=742357d7350b0bf9f9591c8ab&id=3d8527953c&e=95c553a647> 

Communities of Practice

Why This Matters

Health disparities in rural and remote communities are rarely about incidence alone. They are about access, equity, and systems design.

This Guidance aims to support: 

• Policymakers designing rural-responsive systems 
• Health workforce planners 
• Universities and training institutions 
• Community health leaders 
• Global partners advancing Universal Health Coverage

Join us at TUFH 2026 in Manila, Philippines
https://tufh2026.com/

We look forward to welcoming you for TUFH 2026! 

If you need assistance with registration or have any other questions, please contact -
secretariat AT thenetworktufh.org

Join The Network: Towards Unity For Health (TUFH): https://thenetworktufh.org/

You are receiving this e-mail from the Office of the Secretariat from The Network: Towards Unity For Health

Our mailing address is: The Network: Toward Unity for Health (TUFH) 970 Sproul Road Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

My source:  David Cawthorpe via HIFA -
HIFA profile: David Cawthorpe is Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, Canada. His professional interests include: Human Development, Developmental Psychopathology, and Delivery of low bandwidth medical education curriculum. cawthord AT ucalgary.ca

Conquering Today's Health Paradox with the Power of HEAL – An Expert Consensus Report plus Research Priorities and Policymaker Roadmap

A further post will follow with full PR, but the paper is now published:

Article type: Policy Brief
Journal: Frontiers in Public Health - Public Health Education and Promotion
Manuscript ID: 1695757
Received on date: 30 Aug 2025

Abstract

Background. Despite growing scientific evidence and health guidelines, the global health paradox persists, with rising lifestyle-related diseases and escalating healthcare costs exposing the inadequacy of current efforts.

Objective. 3 multidisciplinary congresses were held to generate evidence-based conclusions to tackle the global health paradox.

Methods. 58 experts from 62 entities participated in the international research and knowledge exchange panels. Experts reviewed the latest findings to develop practical strategies, key research and policy priorities, focusing on the “Healthy Eating & Active Living” (HEAL) approach.

Results, Conclusions, and Relevance. The expert consortium endorsed a 33 evidence-based consensual-statement policy roadmap for addressing global health challenges, emphasizing the HEAL approach can significantly contribute to the “Prevention First” appeal and broad ethical, social, ecological, and economic advantages, and eventually policy change.

Wirnitzer KC, Motevalli M, Tanous DR, Drenowatz C, Moser M, Cramer H, Rosemann T, Wagner K-H, Michalsen A, Knechtle B, Fras Z, Ritskes-Hoitinga M, Marques A, Mis NF, Stanford FC, Schubert C, Goswami N, Leitzmann C, Fredriksen PM, Ruedl G, Wilflingseder D, Lima RA, Kessler C, Jeitler M, Khan NA, Joulaei H, Fatemi M, Knight A, Kratky KW, Palmer KK, Haditsch B, Jakse B, Kofler W, Pfeiffer T, Cordova-Pozo K, Tortella P, Straub S, Lynch H, Schätzer M, Krishnan A, Fathima A. S, Gatterer L, Kriwan F, Abhishek M, Nandgaonkar H, Nandgaonkar S, Adedara AO, Haro JM, Gericke C, Neumann G, Akhtar A, Rashidlamir A, Thangavelu M, Ngoumou GB, Perpék É, Klaper M, Bhattacharya B, Kirschner W, Bessems KMHH, Jones P, Peoples G, Bescos R, Duftner C, Seifert G (2025). Toward a roadmap for addressing today’s health dilemma–The 101-statement consensus report. Frontiers in Nutrition, Volume 12:1676080. doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1676080.

 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1676080

'White Coats Vs The White House' c/o BBC World Service

Individual

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     INTERPERSONAL    :     SCIENCES               

HUMANISTIC  --------------------------------------  MECHANISTIC      

 SOCIOLOGY  :    POLITICAL 

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Group

	WHITE COATS
	WHITE HOUSE

White Coats Vs The White House
The Documentary - 21 August 2025

'What is going on with US science? Science Journalist Roland Pease asks whether the rounds of cuts, reorganisations and political strong-arming can be weathered, and how they will likely affect us all.

80 years after Vannevar Bush proposed what became the pact between government and universities that led to decades of global scientific dominance, is the edifice being toppled?

Bush’s report “Science, The Endless Frontier” led to the unwritten pact between university scientists and government funding that underpinned US leadership until now. “Trust us with the money, we’ll give you the global scientific advantage”.'

continued: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct81nr