Federal Ministry of Health Undersecretary Calls for Intensified Interventions to Combat Disease Outbreaks
Khartoum /
The Federal Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) held its regular meeting on Tuesday morning at the Ministry’s headquarters in Khartoum, chaired by the Undersecretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ali Babiker Sayed Ahmed Mohamed. The meeting reviewed the country’s current health situation regarding various disease outbreaks and the ongoing response interventions undertaken by the relevant departments.
The Undersecretary directed health authorities to intensify interventions in states reporting increased outbreak cases, including the Blue Nile Region, Sennar, North Kordofan, and the Red Sea State. He also called for strengthened environmental sanitation measures, emphasized the need to ensure adequate supplies of medicines and medical consumables for the coming period, and urged the Health Promotion Directorate and the National Quarantine Department to intensify public awareness campaigns and counter misinformation.
The meeting reviewed surveillance and epidemiological reports, which indicated confirmed cases of dengue fever in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile Region, viral hepatitis in the Blue Nile Region and Al Jazirah State, and cholera in 14 localities across four states.
The response report highlighted interventions in states affected by the rainy season, noting that five states had experienced seasonal impacts without recording any dengue fever or cholera cases.
Rapid Response Teams continue to operate, alongside interventions in camps hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.
The Environmental Health report confirmed the continuation of activities involving chlorine distribution and vector control targeting aquatic breeding sites both inside and outside residential areas.
Meanwhile, the Health Promotion report outlined awareness activities implemented in ten states, supported by partner organizations and technical agencies.
The National Quarantine report noted the continuation of Ebola preparedness activities, including personnel training. It also revealed that 9,650 people returned through border crossing points during the past week, bringing the cumulative number of voluntary returnees to 307,829.
The Medical Supply report showed variations in the availability of outbreak-related medicines and medical consumables across state warehouses, while intravenous (IV) fluids remained adequately available.
The National Public Health Laboratory reported the latest dengue fever testing results and confirmed that preparedness efforts to respond to disease outbreaks continue to be strengthened.
The meeting also received a comprehensive presentation from the Ministry of Health in South Kordofan on the current health situation and the state’s urgent needs. The Undersecretary expressed his appreciation for the detailed briefing and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing the necessary support to improve health services in the state.