Magical Hands: An impressive feat that saved the life of a patient

Marial and his with the CARE Medical Team

58-year-old Luba Marial was brought to Pariang hospital, in northern South Sudan sweating and with a fever, by family members after suffering years of pain, without apparent diagnosis. Little did he know at the time that he was in a life-or-death situation. 

 “It started 3 years ago as pain in the kidney.” he says, “I visited the hospital several times, but I didn’t get a cure. I was refereed from Hakima health Centre to Pariang with severe pain, I couldn’t eat nor drink, life was hard for me.” 

 Upon admission in Pariang referral hospital, Marial was found to have a severe tissue infection with intestinal obstruction that required urgent surgery. Marial’s condition is a rare but severe type of bacterial infection which can destroy the muscles, skin and underlying tissue and is very difficult to treat. It is a highly fatal condition with mortality rates of 30% and above. Most Patients present with septic shock and septicemia which are serious and life threatening. 

 Luckily, Pariang has a dedicated and qualified surgical team who were able to act quickly, take him into surgery and remove the dead tissue. After undergoing several procedures and treatment the team efforts final paid off, and after a grueling medical journey that took almost 3 months of relentless daily care and treatment, he was finally discharged healthy.

 “If I hadn’t come to Pariang probably I would have died. I feel much better than before, after several hospital visits without cure, when I came to Pariang which is the only big hospital in the area at least this time I got treated”. He added.
Marial with Dr. Mike in Pariang Hospital


South Sudan has some of the poorest health indicators in the world including low life expectancy and poor access to health services – with around 70% of the population living 5 kilometers or more away from health facilities. The health systems are devastated by frequent conflicts and flooding as well as shortage of healthcare workers. 

 To strengthen the health care service delivery in South Sudan, CARE is supporting seven health facilities in Pariang and Yida Counties on the Sudan – South Sudan border to ensure refugees and the host community at the nearby camps and settlements have access to health services. CARE also supports Covid-19 response and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in areas where vaccine distribution has started to improve vaccine uptake by community members.




Marial at Pariang Hospital in South Sudan


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