South Sudanese Health Matters Incorporated

South Sudanese Health Matters Incorporated is a non-government, non-political, and not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people living in Lou Ariik village and the surrounding communities in South Sudan. Established in 2018 and headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, it was inspired by the personal experiences of its CEO, Mawien Ariik, who witnessed the severe health challenges faced by his home community. The organisation focuses on sustainable healthcare initiatives that address urgent health needs and empower the local population.

Mission and Vision

The mission of South Sudanese Health Matters Incorporated is to enhance the health and life opportunities of the Lou Ariik community through sustainable healthcare projects, health education programmes, and by promoting local workforce training to build capacity for ongoing service delivery. Its vision is to tackle the key health problems in the region, ensuring that villagers have the right to live safe, healthy, and long lives, with a long-term commitment to making this vision a reality.

Main Objectives

• Build and maintain a primary health clinic in Lou Ariik village
• Provide sanitary hygiene kits and education to girls and women to reduce school absenteeism
• Focus on maternal, newborn, and paediatric healthcare
• Ensure adequate medical supplies and training for clinic staff
• Empower locals with training on early disease prevention and outbreak control
• Educate traditional midwives and community members on hygiene and emergency health risks
• Develop on-site housing for healthcare workers
• Supply health education materials addressing nutrition and family planning

Benefiting Groups

The organisation primarily benefits the semi-nomadic Dinka people of Lou Ariik village, including women, girls, children, and the broader community. With 75% of the population under 30, many young people gain from improved healthcare access and education. The focus on schoolgirls through menstrual hygiene management directly supports their education and wellbeing.

Services and Activities

South Sudanese Health Matters Incorporated delivers a range of services and activities including:

• Operating a primary health care clinic staffed by doctors, nurses, traditional midwives, and community health workers
• Distributing sustainable feminine hygiene kits to schoolgirls and providing training on their use
• Training local women to produce hygiene kits as a sustainable enterprise, creating employment
• Conducting health education on hygiene, nutrition, family planning, and disease prevention
• Building local capacity to manage healthcare services and respond to emergencies

These initiatives aim to reduce disease, improve maternal and child health, increase school attendance, and empower the community to sustain health improvements independently.