For more than ten years, MSF has been working in Bentiu, Unity State, providing primary and secondary healthcare services through a standalone hospital in the former protection of civilians’ camp (ExPoC), which is now an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp, including for those related to HIV/TB and mental health. Notable changes in 2023 marked the transfer of certain services, such as OPD services, HIV/TB services, and ITFC services, to partner organizations. 

Aligned with MSF's strategic vision of transitioning from standalone facilities to collaborative MSF-Ministry of Health (MoH) facilities in South Sudan, we aim with this project to transition the most critical and relevant medical services towards the MoH BSH. This transition intends to strengthen and empower the MoH to take upon more medical responsibilities and to ensure a sustainable and medical relevant programme suitable for the most vulnerable people within Unity State. With this transition, MSF intends to create more capacity to respond to emergencies and to review our current rationale of intervention through working with the MoH in a partnership model. 

While the transition to Bentiu State Hospital was initially envisioned as an opportunity for MSF to play a more complementary role alongside other health and humanitarian actors, the reality in 2024 reflects a concerning shift. Following significant funding cuts, most notably from USAID, the subsequent scale-down or withdrawal of several key partners in health, WASH, and nutrition, the humanitarian presence in Bentiu has sharply declined. This gap threatens continuity and quality of care for vulnerable populations.