MP Seeks $80,000 Repayment for Medical Debt After Games Injury

A South Sudanese lawmaker has asked parliament to cover more than $80,000 in medical expenses he says he incurred after sustaining serious injuries during the 2023 East African Inter-Parliamentary Games. Moses Athian Deng, an SPLM lawmaker representing Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, told parliament on Wednesday that he borrowed money to pay for treatment after being advised by the then-clerk, Makuc Makuc, to seek funds elsewhere because parliament could not finance his medical care. Deng said he suffered two serious injuries to his shoulder and ribs during the games. Parliament advised me to go and borrow money from outside because parliament did not have money to cover my medical treatment, he told lawmakers. He said three lawmakers required medical treatment after the games but only two were selected to receive treatment abroad, leaving him without parliamentary support. Deng said the former clerk advised him to borrow money to avoid delaying treatment. The clerk, former clerk, advised me to go outside and borrow money, he said. Deng said he followed the advice and borrowed money to pay for his treatment, but the debt had since grown to more than $80,000. He said he raised the matter in parliament following advice from the institutions legal adviser, who asked him to formally bring the issue before the House to seek support. I want a resolution on whether parliament will cover those expenses, and I want a written report on that, Deng said. He also urged parliament to consider whether other lawmakers who took part in the 2023 games had incurred similar medical expenses. Speaker Joseph Ngere Paciko, responding to the request, directed Deng to pursue the matter with the current parliamentary clerk. The request comes as parliament faces financial constraints that have affected its ability to meet some institutional obligations.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Tamazuj