Southern Sudan Medical Education Collaborative (SSMEC)

More than 900 students are enrolled at the Juba University College of Medicine, the only medical school in South Sudan. They will become the new country’s first generation of locally-trained physicians.

SSMEC Blog
SSMEC Student
In February 2010, UJENZI joined forces with the Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Global Health and Human Rights to establish the Southern Sudan Medical Education Collaborative. (SSMEC) GHHR is working in partnership with the government of South Sudan to reestablish in-country training of doctors in the country.

Challenge: The University of Juba College of Medicine is currently the only medical school in South Sudan. More than 900 students are enrolled in the college. There is only one permanent faculty member. The students have limited access to educational materials and until recently, have had only one classroom. The Southern Sudan Medical Education Collaborative (SSMEC) provide the majority of instruction to this seminal generation. 

Solution: Provide instruction, training, and infrastructure. During the next six years, the top University of Juba College of Medicine graduates will become the first medical college faculty. In order to reach this sustainable milestone, the SSMEC will need to raise a minimum of $75,000 per year. The first goals will be the acquisition of two adequate classrooms, reliable electricity, more basic science and medical textbooks, and laboratory supplies.
Accomplishments to date: Since March 2010, SSMEC medical student instructors have taught 94-person weeks of biomedical sciences at the University of Juba. SSMEC instructors have delivered full courses in biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, histology, neuroscience, community medicine, and physical diagnosis. Remarkably, the amazing and innovative SSMEC team today includes medical student instructors from Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Albany Medical College, University of Nairobi Medical School, Tufts University Medical School, Boston University Medical School, and Stanford Medical School.
Fred with the students
  • $4,400 purchased flights, travel permits, food and housing for 3 medical school instructors to join our SSMEC Team and teach full time for 2 months (from the University of Nairobi)
  • $4,000 paid for a full-time Harvard medical school instructor to teach medical school (SSMEC) and work on the MNCS Initiative for 3 months
  • $2,000 paid for obtaining and delivering 250 medical textbooks (from the U.S. to South Sudan) in support of the SSMEC effort
In addition to their work in the classroom, SSMEC instructors have coordinated the establishment of a small medical school library and two basic medical college classrooms as well as provided numerous teaching supplies. SSMEC is continuing this relief effort while also exploring sustainable options for the long term, including faculty development track at the University of Juba and collaborations with the University of Nairobi Medical School