Sudan Conflict Threatens Health Sector…..

“Attacks on health care are a flagrant violation of international law and the right to health”.

Report by:Haffiya Elyas

The ongoing armed conflict in Sudan has resulted in a deepening humanitarian crisis with significant implications for the country’s health system, threatening its collapse. The conflict has led to the severe compromise of healthcare facilities, with only one-third of hospitals in conflict zones operational. Artillery attacks, forced militarization, power outages, and shortages of medical supplies and personnel have further crippled the health system. The exodus of health workers and escalating violence have exacerbated the crisis. Disrupted service delivery has resulted in the interruption of essential health services, including obstetric care, emergency services, and dialysis. Financial losses to the health system are estimated at $700 million, impacting an already underfunded sector.

Hospitals across Sudan have been bombed, looted and occupied by armed factions since fighting broke out .
As a result, millions of civilians are being denied vital healthcare.

Medical supplies rapidly dwindled after the conflict began on April 15, with shipments of medicines and other medical supplies stolen or undelivered. Meanwhile, scores of health professionals have been killed, wounded or forced to leave the country.

The entire health system is grappling with challenges, reflecting the nation’s struggles. Shelter centres are dispersed across the Sudan, with some encountering issues of overcrowding.

To aid the situation, several organizations have rolled out mobile, direct, and complimentary clinic services,” stated Haitham Muhammad Ibrahim.

Providing insight into the healthcare burden, the Minister noted the presence of 8,000 kidney patients in Khartoum requiring 72,000 monthly dialysis sessions, amounting to around $2.5 million over a three-month period. He acknowledged the existing assistance from countries as insufficient to cover this substantial requirement, prompting collaborative efforts with partners coordinated by the Ministry of Finance.

Drawing attention to the situation, the Minister noted the gradual restoration of hospital services in Khartoum, a region equipped with 42 hospitals, 56 healthcare centres, and 14 dialysis centres.

“While central and reference hospitals in Khartoum suffered losses, some essential services have been reinstated in areas like Gezira State, which boasts substantial hospitals specialized in heart, oncology, gastrointestinal care, and orthopaedics,” he elaborated.

In regard to assessing the extent of damage inflicted upon hospitals in Khartoum, the Minister indicated a lack of specific statistics but emphasized the severity of the impact, with numerous crucial devices and equipment lost.

Addressing health care provisions in Darfur, the Minister highlighted the suspension of services due to security concerns, particularly in Central, South, and West Darfur states.

A high-ranking medical that lab, which contains samples of diseases and other biological material, had been taken over by RSF forces. The WHO did not appoint blame for the lab seizure but said medical technicians no longer had access to the facility.

The RSF has denied taking control of the lab, no control over the laboratory.”

Nima Saeed Abid, the WHO representative in Sudan, described the development as “extremely dangerous because we have polio isolates in the lab, we have measles isolates in the lab, we have cholera isolates in the lab.”

“There is a huge biological risk associated with the occupation of the central public health lab in Khartoum by one of the fighting parties,” he added.

The WHO said in a statement to agencies that “trained laboratory technicians no longer have access to the laboratory” and that the facility had suffered power cuts, meaning “it is not possible to properly manage the biological materials that are stored in the laboratory for medical purposes.”

The power cuts also mean there is a risk of spoilage of depleting stocks of blood bags, according to the director-general of the laboratory.

The medical source said that “the danger lies in the outbreak of any armed confrontation in the laboratory because that will turn the laboratory into a germ bomb.”

“An urgent and rapid international intervention is required to restore electricity and secure the laboratory from any armed confrontation because we are facing a real biological danger,” the source added.

Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, the WHO regional director, said: “Reports of military strikes against health facilities, hijacking of ambulances while patients and paramedics are on board, looting of health facilities, and military forces occupying health facilities are deeply concerning.”

It’s estimated that more than 16 hospitals, including nine in the capital Khartoum, are now non-functional.

“Attacks on health care are a flagrant violation of international law and the right to health. They must stop now,” said Dr Al-Mandhari.