"High five" of joy at Yambio Hospital: Mother & Midwife celebrate a safe delivery
The Health Sector Transformation Project is not only saving lives, but also redefining the relationship between mothers and midwives
When Victoria Luiz gave birth to her fourth child at Yambio Hospital, joy filled the maternity department. Exhausted yet relieved, she stretched out her hand toward the midwife and asked for a "high five." That simple gesture full of gratitude and shared happiness captured something deeper: the quiet transformation taking place at the hospital, one safe delivery at a time.
Victoria, 25, had followed every step of her antenatal care at Yambio Primary Health Care Center. She was well-informed about what to expect and what to avoid during pregnancy.
The information I obtained from antenatal care sharing sessions helped me so much. I stayed healthy, had no complications, and when the labour pain started last night, I knew it was time.
Cradling her newborn, she added: "The reception at the hospital was warm. I was treated with so much care. I'm just full of joy."
That night, Victoria's delivery was handled by Gasi Vicky, a midwife with 20 years of experience. Vicky has been working in Yambio since 2009, and her passion for the work runs deep passed down from her mother, also a nurse, and now carried forward by her own daughter, who recently became a midwife too.
Midwifery is a calling for me. When Victoria came in, she was in a lot of pain. It wasn't easy at first, but she cooperated, and together we brought her beautiful baby girl into the world.
"When she asked for that 'high five,' I was so happy. We laughed, we celebrated, it was one of those moments that reminds you why you do this job," said Vicky.
Just a year ago, scenes like this were far less common. In January 2024, Yambio Hospital recorded only 21 safe deliveries. But by January 2025, the number had jumped to 246.
Between January and June of this year alone, the maternity unit handled 1,312 safe deliveries.
The difference is hard to ignore, and much of it stems from the impact of the Health System Transformation Project (HSTP). At the heart of Yambio Hospital's turnaround is a combination of infrastructure improvements, increased staffing, and better service delivery.
Dr. Konjo Samuel, the hospital's Medical Director, oversees five major departments and eleven smaller clinics. The facility serves over 200,000 people and handles between 2,000 to 3,000 consultations each month. Of the more than 200 staff, 131 are now supported through HSTP.
Before HSTP, the hospital was struggling. From 2022 to mid-2024, we had limited support, mainly just in maternity. There wasn't a major partner investing across the whole system. But once HSTP came in, things began to change.
He pointed to noticeable improvements in outpatient services, family planning attendance, staff training, and the physical infrastructure itself.
"The maternity ward and hospital store have both been renovated. Even though there are occasional delays in staff incentives, they do arrive and that helps boost morale," Samuel added.
"The progress at Yambio Hospital shows what's possible when strong partnerships unite around a shared goal of saving lives and restoring dignity to healthcare in South Sudan," said Peter Ambayo, UNICEF Health Officer for the Greater Equatoria Region.
In just one year, HSTP has improved service use, infrastructure, and frontline capacity, bringing real change for mothers, children, and communities.
"As we enter Year 2, we must build on this momentum. Sustaining progress will require stronger government ownership and continued commitment from partners to focus on quality, equity, and long-term system resilience," Peter added.
Yambio Hospital, one of eight state hospitals among the 816 health facilities across South Sudan supported by the Health Sector Transformation Project (HSTP), exemplifies transformation not only in the improved statistics but, more importantly, in the deeply human moments: a newborn's first cry, a mother's relieved smile, and a midwife's outstretched hand, ready to share a high five.
Two months into its second year, HSTP — a government-led initiative spearheaded by the National Ministry of Health, supported by UNICEF and WHO as management organisations, with generous funding from a consortium of partners including the World Bank, Global Affairs Canada, the Global Fund, GAVI, and the European Union — change is underway.
It is not just a project on paper, it is a lifeline being felt in delivery rooms, in antenatal clinics, and in the homes of mothers like Victoria.
