Inside a Neonatal Clinic in South Sudan: ‘In Some Ways, It Felt Wrong to Be Here’

Having done several "tours" in what is now South Sudan; 1st in Nuba Mountains (which is in South Koradafan Province, Sudan)-2nd in/near Juba. My experience beginning in Haiti thru to Bosnia, Croatia..onto Afghanistan, Iraq, Southern/Sudan-Nuba and Uganda is reporters or journalist bring to the public eye issues affecting millions of people which include starvation, horrific crimes against humanity, political-tribal corruption and many other issues which are not in the fabric of our society in the US..or western nations, in general. I have a deep and enduring respect for those who (in many cases have issues with force protection) go beyond the realm to bring these stories of humanity to the mainstream reader. Journalist have been killed in so many of our involvement in conflicts, war and peace enforcement worldwide..to many to list here. For the unknown names of those who bring the news, issues on life and death from around the world. Thank you!

Regarding whether the reporters did anything "wrong," I don't know what journalism school would say, but can't see anything wrong here with what they did--either as journalists or as human beings. They told an important story. True they didn't tell everything, some of which (context, source for contributions) got picked up in the comments. In my view, these are all part of the same journalistic package. Other impressions: a better picture of the "quarters" in which the new mothers stayed, if not part of another of their articles, would have been useful if it didn't detract from the main story. But perhaps there was a word or digit-size count limitation. Quotes from South Sudan's Health Minister, as well as a knowledgeable aid organization, would have been appropriate. A bit about the fathers' presence, or lack of it, would have helped, too. But perhaps these would have detracted from the focus on a powerful story, both "the facts" and the personal/professional dilemma. Regarding the unusable CPAP, unless there a relevant backstory, this is an example of when half a loaf, given by an aid organization, isn't "better-than-nothing" without the complimentary oxygen equipment. At a time when aid organizations are urged to measure their performance, this one, tragically, would have to go down as a zero. If these reporters win a journalism award for this effort, it would be fitting if the award-granting organization finds a way to bring the people in this article into that process.

Thank you for this reporting. Breaks our hearts. Here in America, meanwhile, people think that a $700+ billion military investment is the ultimate safe defense--forgetting what medicine, food, and decent care can do for those in need.

Of course the reporters directed their crew and equipment from the maternity ward to the ward with critical newborn cases--much juicier reporting, more heartstring-tugging opportunities, maybe a chance for a journalism award. This was exploitative reporting involving lack of informed consent from the third-world mother--a clear failure to meet minimal journalistic standards. Would the reporters have tried this stunt in a hospital in Harlem? I don't think so--they'd be kicked out of the hospital and probably sued for violating all sorts of health-care related laws and regulations, not to mention patient privacy. Shame on the NYT and these reporters. There are other, better and more ethical ways to highlight the many problems and needs of third-world hospitals and their patients.

My now two year old granddaughter was born three months early and weighed only 1 lb. 7 ounces at birth. She was not growing properly in the womb and my daughter's doctors decided this little baby would have a better chance on the outside and delivered her by caesarean. She was on a c-pap for most of the 114 days she was in the NICU. She is truly a miracle but and benefitted from the wonderful care she received in the NICU. Today she is an active toddler with a wonderful life ahead of her. My heart goes out to those mothers with preemie babies who have so little help. All babies should have the benefits of modern preemie care. We should all be ashamed that we live in a world that allows this inequality to exist.

New England's first European settlers were often well-read in religious texts. They too buried infants who had not been baptized as, simply, "Infant": their time-worn stones break one's heart today as we peruse their churchyard resting places. That was the 17th century. This is the 21st. After centuries of colonialism, economic imperialism, and racist insensitivity, it is an insult to the notions of "civilization," reason, and humanity to find unnamed infants dying next to new CPAP machines without oxygen and reliable power while outside the hospital Western hardware kills the parents of the nameless ones. Can't we do better, for God's sake, and for the babies'?

Many comments refer to a desire to contribute directly to this hospital and neonatal unit. Can the nyt provide any reliable information? Robert

As this follows recent article concerning children drowning in schoolyard "pit toilets" in South Africa because funds designated for improvements were siphoned off or gone missing before reaching the target project, one wonders how much of same graft obtains in South Sudan and what correctives might be applied to such theft and consequent tragedy?

I am curious to know where Dr. Tongan did her training and where Mr. Lino did his. They seem like remarkable people.

Can you tell us what is the best way to help the hospital or where could I provide financial/medical aid?

"Despite millions of dollars coming into the country for humanitarian relief, the clinic has almost nothing." Why? Is there a way to donate directly to the neonatal clinic?

Your story touched my heart. I have been a neonatal intensive care nurse for almost 30 years. Though my NICU experience has been all in the USA, I come from the developing country of Guyana, the only English speaking country in South America. A few years ago, I visited the the public hospital to deliver some donated supplies to the NICU and was taken around the unit by a senior nurse. There was intense activity around one isolette. The side was down, the bed pulled out and a group of about 5 people were working to place an intravenous catheter into a baby who looked to be about 28-30 weeks corrected gestional age, about the size of a pigeon and whose tiny limbs would, I knew, be little bigger than my fingers. The baby was grey, limp and barely moving air. No one was trying to give breaths, there was no code cart, no respiratory setup. Everyone was focused on getting the IV. Can I help I asked the head nurse.She looked at me in some shock and shook her head. No, it would have to go through the doctor in charge, I was not part of the team, it would be difficult. I knew as we left the unit that the baby would not make it. It’s little body was far too stressed to recover. I said as much to the nurse. Outside the unit, a young girl in a night gown stood by the door sobbing hard into her hands. She looked about 13 or 14 years old. The nurse nodded towards her and said to me “That’s the mother. We believe her father raped her. It’s probably for the best if that baby dies.”

What a heartbreaking story, that is all too common in many countries . Surely, dear readers, someone knows of a nonprofit who can get the necessary CPAP equipment they need, etc. to this hospital and others like it in this area? If so, what is the organization and can we donate?

These are the stories that matter, in many ways. We can fix this. This world doesn't have to be like this. We don't have to accept this disparity. Forget the carnival sideshow that is Trump, Trump, Trump all the time. It's relentless and I need our news to stop feeding him. There are so many other stories that truly matter. My sincerest sympathies Restina for the loss of your daughter.

This really gives "First World problems" a new meaning. . .

Bill Gates?

The fertility rate is high, at 7.1 live births per woman. Woman need access to contraception. https://www.sum.uio.no/english/research/news-and-events/news/2017/reprod... https://www.unfpa.org/news/south-sudan-opposition-family-planning-exacer...

Being a mother of two boys, both born premature and one very sick, this article was very emotional to read for me. I am left wondering if they practise Kangaroo care in this clinic? In all the photos the babies were placed in beds. From what i know it is a simple and very good technique to keep these little ones stay healthier.

Perhaps if there were adequate birth control and educational resources in this country, the rate of infant death would decline (or the resources to treat sick newborns would increase). Constant procreation is not only unnecessary, it's destructive.

As a mother of a premature baby who was fortunate to receive excellent care in Switzerland, this story is heartbreaking. I’d like to know please how I can contribute to this hospital. Thank you.

The country has huge oil reserves. There is plenty of money there. Sudanese doctors in the US make very good money and many would go back if they thought they could make the same living. There is a place for colonialism of a more benevolent kind. NGOs and such are like whitewalls on a dump truck. A transitional colonial government would make sense and it could move the country from the stone age to the jet age. Then, when the citizens are well fed and educated one could try self government. The current president has three wives and 16 children.....suggesting that without some sort of colonial takeover and birth control things will just get so overpopulated that even the oil riches will not be enough. A great article is "A case for colonialism" by Bruce Gilley. It is on google. Of course it is not going to happen and these children are condemned to a terrible life unless they can get to Germany.

So in the end- did you receive permission from the mother to share her story and footage?

Great piece. I'm a young mother and while I'm aware that such situations do exist all over the world, it's heartbreaking to read of the struggles that these women and their children are undergoing here at this clinic. If you could share how one could donate to this clinic and their plight, it'd be much appreciated.

There is always money for war

How can we help?

These conditions are not unique in Africa, even in countries at peace. My experience was in 1990 but same conditions still persist in many areas of the continent. I spent a few weeks in Benin, West Africa. 70 percent of the children admitted to the hospital died. They came from long distances and were critically ill when they were admitted. Often they improved briefly with treatment but then would pick up an infection from another child and pass away in a day or so. The hospital staff included fulltime grave diggers. There was no such thing as an incubator for babies. Wooden boxes about 2 ft long by 1 ft by 1 foot had a removable lid with air holes. A hot water bottle wrapped in blankets went in the bottom, then baby, then the lid on top. Moms could stay on the ward. Family members of adult patients lived outside on the hospital grounds in conditions we consider " primitive camping". Our present president has made deeply offensive remarks about these countries. In my short time there, I found the native citizens to be intelligent, witty, unfailing kind and generous with whatever little they had to share.

How different this story appears reported by females. The doctor asks, “Would you have a baby here?” — a question not to be asked of males. I felt the report’s identification with the young mothers. Thank you for offering this different vision. And out hearts go out to South Sudan.