Health Ministry : 250 hospitals destroyed and $11 billion in health sector losses due to war
The Citizen/ Haffiya Elyas
The Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, refuted claims regarding the collapse of Sudan’s health system, citing the presence of six essential pillars necessary for its operation. These pillars include a governing body founded on health regulations, the ongoing provision of health services through numerous institutions, an operational medical and pharmaceutical supply system, and the sustained functionality of healthcare personnel and information systems. He emphasized that all these elements are actively functioning. Additionally, he noted that there are a total of 750 hospitals, with 250 experiencing partial disruption or destruction in both public and private sectors. Dr. Ibrahim made these remarks during a weekly media platform event held in Port Sudan, the capital of the Red Sea State, where he also addressed the violations committed by the Rapid Support Militia.
The Minister stated that certain hospitals, such as Al-Nu and Omduman hospitals , are still operational despite ongoing assaults by the militia. He also mentioned Al-Dayat Hospital, which has been identified as the militia’s command center, and Al-Balak Hospital. The Minister emphasized that these attacks are systematic and clarified that supplies are being delivered to hospitals in Al-Fasher via airdrop, in coordination with the armed forces. Furthermore, he noted the significant challenges faced by the Oncology Hospital , expressing concern over the substantial hardship caused by the closure of the two largest cancer treatment centers in Sudan, located in Khartoum and Madani, as well as the operational difficulties confronting the State centers in Nyala, El Fasher, and El Obaiad.
The Minister highlighted the significant loss of medical supplies, totaling 500 million dollars, which were taken from Khartoum. Additionally, there was a loss of 20 million dollars worth of supplies in the state of Gezira, looted by the Rapid Support Militia . In total, the value of the looted private medical supplies amounts to 600 million dollars.
The Minister further stated that the overall financial losses in the health sector reached 11 billion dollars, representing 22% of the total damage incurred across the entire service sector.
During the weekly briefing on the violations committed by the rebel Rapid Support militia in the health sector, the Minister confirmed that, according to the estimates from the Committee on Health Economics, the losses in hospitals in Khartoum have risen to 2.2 billion dollars. As of July, the reported deaths of children under one year old include 1,121 cases, alongside 870 maternal fatalities, with documented incidents of rape totaling 306 cases.