A Chinese medical team has successfully repaired and restored a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner at Juba Teaching Hospital in South Sudan. The machine had been out of service for about 10 months due to core-hardware failures and damage caused by rampant rat infestations inside the hospital. The CT scanner is a vital piece of equipment for the hospital, and its breakdown had left residents with limited access to affordable imaging diagnostic services.
The CT scanner suffered a sudden breakdown in November 2025 and ceased operation completely. The hospital authorities attributed the breakdown to a combination of multiple problems, including core-hardware failures involving several detector modules and chewed-and-damaged critical optical-fiber cables due to rat infestations. As a result, residents had to turn to expensive private-sector facilities for CT scans, which were unaffordable for ordinary households.
According to Zhao Yao, Deputy Head of CT Scanner Operations, the equipment suffered complex and extensive damage caused by multiple overlapping malfunctions. He cited unstable power supply and rat infestations as major contributors to the breakdown. Yao received remote technical guidance from senior engineers based in China while conducting on-site inspections, which enabled him to identify the problem and successfully repair the machine.
The Chinese medical team's successful repair of the machine has revived accurate large-scale imaging examinations at the hospital. Critically ill patients suffering from cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, and other emergencies can now receive timely identification of underlying conditions, greatly improving treatment outcomes. The hospital has reported that 10 patients have so far undergone scans since the machine was restored.
Lero Anna, a radiology technologist at Juba Teaching Hospital, noted that the CT scanner broke down due to persistent power outages and implored the hospital management to secure a stable emergency power supply to mitigate damage to the CT scanner. She highlighted the challenges faced by the facility, including the machine's high temperature, which affects its operation.
Since the repair, the facility now receives between eight and 10 patients per day for CT scans. Anna emphasized that a stable electricity supply is crucial to the smooth operation of the department. She expressed hope that with a stable power supply, the department will be able to help more patients.
The successful repair of the CT scanner by the 14th batch of the Chinese medical team has alleviated the long-standing medical-access hardships faced by residents. The equipment is once again providing local people with accurate and efficient imaging diagnostic services. The hospital authorities have expressed gratitude to the Chinese medical team for their expertise and support in reviving the CT scanner.
Key points
- The Chinese medical team's repair of the CT scanner has restored access to affordable imaging diagnostic services for residents.
- The breakdown of the CT scanner was caused by a combination of core-hardware failures and damage caused by rat infestations.
- The hospital receives between eight and 10 patients per day for CT scans since the repair.
