He has been working with CUAMM for 7 years — all of them spent in South Sudan, one of the most challenging countries with increasingly complex issues. Dr. Olumide Salawu is the new South Sudan Country Manager and coordinates CUAMM’s operations from Juba. A 43-year-old surgeon with extensive experience in various contexts and fields, today he feels he is in the right place. He sees a clear path ahead and, above all, has the desire to face it, putting himself out there both as a man and as a doctor.
Born in Nigeria, he first served in Sierra Leone to later move to South Sudan where he got to know CUAMM and the activities we carry out in the country, including support to 4 hospitals, 66 primary healthcare facilities, and 2 training schools for midwives and nurses. In addition, the latest commitment to serving mothers and children with a emergency referral system in Lakes State.
“I first heard about CUAMM in 2014, when I was working with the African Union on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Later, I worked at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital as a medical consultant for the World Bank, and that’s where I met CUAMM doctors in person. What struck me the most was their dedication and commitment, especially in patient care. It was a holistic approach to healthcare. And I thought to myself: if people who are not originally from Africa show such enthusiasm in caring for us Africans, then I should do my part too. So, when the opportunity came, I accepted immediately. Between Sierra Leone and South Sudan, I chose the latter because I felt I had already given a lot in Sierra Leone and wanted to discover another part of Africa. I was enthusiastic and determined to succeed. And I believe it was exactly this motivation, along with my passion for health and people, that helped me through the initial difficulties of adjusting to a new country.” Said Dr. Olumide Salawu – CUAMM Country Manager in South Sudan.
He arrived in South Sudan in July 2019 and first worked at Cueibet Hospital as a surgeon and project manager. At the time, he was the only doctor in the county.
“I worked with excellent staff — midwives, pediatricians, and other surgeons. I also collaborated with a surgeon, Dr. Enzo, who was in Rumbek at the time,” he recalled.
Later, he was transferred to Rumbek as hospital coordinator, taking on the management of a larger hospital with more responsibilities. After his hospital work, he was tasked with coordinating public health activities in Rumbek’s five counties. For the past few months, he has held the role of Country Manager.
“I believe one of CUAMM’s strengths is its investment in the growth of human resources, which helps ensure continuity of intervention and strengthen the health system,” said Dr. Olumide Salawu. “Too many and constant changes make it difficult to build and maintain a consistent approach. But with people who truly understand the system, you can make it grow. For me, moving from clinical work to public health and management has been a huge achievement — one I’m grateful to CUAMM for. Today, healthcare requires a holistic approach. If we’re talking about clinical care, I can contribute. If it’s about management, I can too. The same goes for public health, leadership, and governance. This journey has helped me grow, become more professional and skilled, and contribute to the overall development.”
Reflecting on present challenges and future perspectives in the country he now calls home, Dr. Olumide Salawu seems to be confident yet realistic:
“South Sudan is a very young country — the youngest in Africa — but at the moment, the situation is calm. People are going about their daily lives, especially in Juba. Of course, you can’t ignore the clashes, often due to cattle raids, which here are a cultural issue. There are some tensions in areas like Unity State, in Nasir, where there are still clashes between opposition forces and the government. But everything is under control. Over time, I’ve come to understand the dynamics, the politics, the entire health system of the country, and how to navigate it.”
