By Opija Raduk
With almost seven out of ten hospitals in conflict-affected areas of Sudan shutting down, the country is grappling with a severe healthcare crisis that has worst affected women and girls.
Urgently needed by 2.64 million women and girls of reproductive age, critical reproductive health services are inaccessible. Of this vulnerable population, 262,880 are pregnant, with over 90,000 expected to give birth within the next three months.
Since April, the World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 46 attacks on health workers and facilities, resulting in eight deaths and 18 injuries. Looting and violence against healthcare workers further compound the crisis, with armed forces occupying health facilities.
The National Medical Supply Funds (NMSF) warehouses in Khartoum, which houses medicines for the entire country, including those for malaria and chronic diseases, are reportedly under military control.
The United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA)’s stocks of medicines and equipment for obstetric care, post-rape treatment, and contraceptives are also inaccessible, exacerbating critical shortages of medical supplies in various states.
Additionally, hospitals are grappling with fuel shortages, leading to electricity blackouts. Tragically, a hospital in East Darfur reported the deaths of six newborns in a week due to a lack of oxygen during power outages. Over 30 newborns have reportedly died at the hospital since the conflict began. Although temporary fuel support enabled safe deliveries and caesarean sections in Khartoum, sustained aid is urgently needed to secure fuel and supplies for key hospitals.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for the honoring of commitments made in Jeddah in May, emphasizing the restoration of essential services and the withdrawal of armed forces from healthcare and public facilities.
“The conflict must stop, health facilities, health workers and patients must be protected, humanitarian and medical aid must be allowed through,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem.
“People who need urgent healthcare should not be afraid to step out of their homes for fear of their safety, and women’s right to reproductive healthcare must be upheld, conflict or no conflict.”
UNFPA continues to provide sexual and reproductive healthcare through trained midwives, who assist with safe home births and at functioning health facilities. However, the crisis demands immediate action.
WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health and partners to provide essential care, train health workers, and support national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response.
