Change through Teamwork in South Sudan
By Thomas St. Pierre & Jocelyn Mattingly
Extraordinary change is unfolding at St. Theresa Mission Hospital in Nzara, South Sudan. The facility serves a region where only 5.4% of people have access to electricity, and healthcare is very limited. The change taking place within the hospital wasn’t powered by new technology or massive funding alone, but by something equally essential: teamwork. In the podcast, “Meanwhile on the Nile… Three Months in South Sudan,” host, pediatrician, and CMMB volunteer Dr. Mahvash joins Ashley, a neonatal and critical care nurse with whom she served for three months at St. Theresa Hospital. Their conversation delves into how their collaboration fueled transformation.
Ashley practices neonatal resuscitation with a colleague at St. Theresa Mission Hospital.
During their time at the hospital, the two volunteers combined complementary skills to strengthen patient care and the capacity of local staff. Ashley brought expertise in neonatal resuscitation, infection control, and critical care, while Dr. Mahvash contributed her pediatric knowledge and the ability to contextualize treatments for local conditions.
Knowledge sharing, mentorship, and training sessions helped improve outcomes in an environment where medications, equipment, and infrastructure are often unreliable. Ashley was able to get oxygen concentrators working and plan for their maintenance despite harsh conditions. Though critical to saving lives, the concentrators struggle, usually failing, in humid climates like Nzara’s. Dr. Mahvash’s pediatric knowledge supported hands-on teaching during rounds and training sessions, with special focus on better care for critically ill patients. Meanwhile, both volunteers adjusted their skills to suit this remote community’s environment and language barriers.
Dr. Mahvash works alongside fellow staff at St. Theresa Mission Hospital.
Increasing survival rates empowered hospital staff. One nurse, after a successful baby resuscitation, said, “If I can save this baby, I can save more.” That sense of possibility required care beyond equipment or training, because it builds momentum for sustained improvement and hope.
“If I can save this baby, I can save more.”
Overall, Dr. Mahvash and Nurse Ashley’s impact was measurable. Together, they diagnosed and treated up to 80 children each day. Pediatric mortality, once as high as 5.7%, dropped below 1%—a result of the volunteers’ training sessions and the staff’s commitment to their patients. During malaria season, staff prevented losses through improved recognition of cases, treatment of shock and dehydration, and better airway management. By the time Dr. Mahvash and Ashley’s experience in South Sudan ended, infrastructure improvements further enhanced the staff’s ability to provide quality care. A newly installed solar farm provides round-the-clock electricity, and Dr. Mahvash and Ashley helped staff take full advantage of it. These changes gave newborns a chance to survive their first fragile days. Confidence among staff soared, and lives changed.
Dr. Mahvash with Nurse Richard and Nurse Bonface.
Though both have now returned home, their partnership endures with each other and St. Theresa Hospital. Ashley remains involved in the hospital’s infection prevention initiatives and looks back on her time in South Sudan as “priceless.” Dr. Mahvash stays engaged in remote pediatric training and advocacy for resources suited to the region’s conditions. Their work underscores that lasting progress in healthcare does not come from outside expertise alone, but from partnerships that strengthen systems and support local staff.
Ashley and Dr. Mahvash’s impact shows us what’s possible when different strengths and perspectives unite, adapt to limitations, and focus on building capacity for the future. Behind every healed individual and every staff member, there is a story of teamwork.