Türkiye donates medical equipment to South Sudanese students

By Benjamin Takpiny

JUBA, South Sudan(AA) - The Turkish Embassy, in coordination with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), donated laboratory equipment Wednesday to medical students in South Sudan.

Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan, Erdem Mutaf, said at the handing over ceremony that the embassy is paying special importance to the education sector in South Sudan

“TIKA’s donation to Upper Nile University faculty of medicine should be considered in the framework of our approach to the education sector,” said Mutaf. “I am sure that this assistance will be instrumental in increasing the capacity of medical students in the Upper Nile University.”

He said that the embassy would be in touch with the vice counselor of the school to work on projects.

“Türkiye and South Sudan signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) for the corporation in the field of higher education, in 2017. If we ratify this MoU, it will give an opportunity for the exchange of academicians between our countries as a first step. As the Republic of Türkiye. We have been granting scholarships to South Sudanese students for their university education in Turkey for the last 10 years -- postgraduate and PhD as well,” said Mutaf.

He added that the embassy is also pursuing setting up an international school and compassing primary and secondary school students in Juba.

“I am sure with the help of the relevant South Sudan authorities, we will be able to open the school in the period ahead,” he added.

Vice Chancellor of Upper Nile University, Mamour Chuol Turuk, appreciated the embassy and TIKA for the generous support to medical students at the school.

“This is a great day because of the contribution of TIKA and it is meaningful because you have given your heart to serve this nation in whatever capacity that you have. We are looking forward to more collaboration between the university and TIKA,” he said.

“We thank you for your generous gift. It is not small, it is big. It is a gesture of humanity and willingness to help. I would like to thank the coordination of TIKA. What you have shown today is a sense of responsibility for taking the responsibility of education. It is not easy sometimes. We will continue on the same path”

Abdullah Sari, TIKA’s country coordinator, said the equipment donation would improve education and the quality of students in their field.

“We thank Minister of Higher Education Gabriel Chanson Chang and ambassador Erdem Mutaf. I thank academicians of Upper Nile and students of the medical association and for supporting to donate equipment for the university and students. I hope this equipment will improve education, quality of students and also to improve TIKA and university relations, and Turkish and South Sudanese people relations.”

Wilson Bech Majok, chairperson of the Medical Students Association at Upper Nile University said the equipment will help students carry out their practical work that is required.

“We thank the TIKA for this donation of medical equipment. It is going to help the students in the faculty of medicine to do their work well,” he said. “The request of medical equipment was made to TIKA in October last year. We thank Tika for their immediate response.”