Khartoum- Sudanese Minister of Health, Dr. Haitham Muhammad Ibrahim, announced a new toll of cholera infections and deaths in 10 Sudanese states where the epidemic has spread, and revealed to Al Jazeera Net that the number of deaths has risen to 555 people, and those infected to 18,900.
He explained that difficulties have increased in delivering supplies, providing medical services, and containing epidemics in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces. He said, “We are now fighting on more than one front to operate hospitals and institutions and combat epidemics.”
The Sudanese Minister of Health stated that the first challenge they face now is the security and safety of medical personnel to deliver medical supplies in states and regions controlled or whose roads are blocked by Rapid Support, in addition to the challenge of the lack of funding allocated for health interventions.
He pointed out that the actual estimate of the health and humanitarian need in Sudan – as stated in a United Nations report – is $4.7 billion, while the support they received did not exceed 25% of this amount. He stressed that the need is greater than what is allocated for health interventions from the international community, United Nations agencies and other organizations.
The Sudanese minister said that they are unable to meet the salaries and benefits of medical personnel who played a very important role in securing the health system and the continuity of medical services.
He revealed huge losses inflicted on the health sector due to the war, amounting to $11 billion, representing the value of what was lost in terms of medical equipment, devices, pharmaceutical supplies, sabotage of hospitals, and looting of ambulances, transportation, shipping, and others.
He reported that the number of hospitals in Sudan is 700, but a third of these hospitals no longer provide service due to the war.
Below is the text of the dialogue:
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How do you evaluate the health situation in Sudan now, more than 17 months after the outbreak of war?
There are two aspects after more than 17 months, one of increasing difficulties, and another aspect related to the high flexibility of the government and the health system, which contributed greatly to continuing to provide basic services, especially services related to basic emergency operations in hospitals, epidemic control, and pharmaceutical services.
But difficulties are increasing, especially in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Militia, as there are difficulties in delivering supplies and difficulties in providing medical and health services to those areas. If epidemics appear in areas controlled by the Rapid Support, there are very great difficulties in containing them, and this has become clear.
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It seems that you are fighting on more than one front, but how do you deal with epidemics, especially cholera and malaria?
Indeed, as I mentioned, we are fighting on more than one front, the front for operating hospitals and institutions, and thank God there is a large number of institutions and hospitals operating, especially in safe areas controlled by the armed forces, and these constitute more than 60% of health services currently, as many have fled. From citizens from the rapid support areas to safe areas and states, which became densely populated and displaced, and good service was provided there.
The second front is the front of emergencies and health epidemics that have appeared recently, and appear with every fall, especially cholera, malaria, and some endemic diseases that appear in very large numbers in the fall. Control operations are continuing, but they need to be strengthened, especially in the states where there is a greater spread.
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There are daily deaths in Khartoum in large numbers due to cholera and malaria. What is the extent of the disease and how do you deal with this situation?
There has been an increase in the incidence of cholera in the past months, and its spread has reached 10 states, but control activities are now organized in all of these states, and we are keen to deliver intravenous solutions and perfusion salts, while taking the role of the citizen with us and expanding the work of organizations in the different states.
On Monday, the second of October, infection cases reached 18,900, in addition to 555 deaths, but there are signs of integrated efforts between the government of Sudan and international organizations, led by the United Nations agencies, which have provided and continue to play a clear role in combating the disease, especially in the states. Which appeared recently.
Their role is mainly to provide support to treatment centers with regard to supplies, chlorine, examinations and vaccinations. The introduction of vaccinations can make a big difference, and vaccinations and other interventions last year played a very big role.
Vaccinations have begun in the Kassala and Wood El Helio localities, and we expect more supplies of more than 1,400,000 doses to arrive, and they will be distributed to the most affected states in Kassala, Gedaref, and the Nile River, and with other interventions, things will go for the better.
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What are the biggest challenges you face now?
The first challenge is security and safety for health personnel, and security and safety for the delivery of medical supplies in areas controlled or whose roads are blocked by the Rapid Support “militia” in the Kordofan and Darfur regions and in central Sudan in the states of Sennar, Khartoum, and Gezira.
Some areas have become semi-isolated, and it is difficult to deliver supplies to them, except by limited air transport, which does not enable us to transport sufficient quantities. This is the biggest challenge currently facing the work, so we call for the necessity of opening the main paths and roads, especially the link between Khartoum and the island, and between the central states of Sennar. The Blue Nile, and the road linking the White Nile to North Kordofan.
These are very important main roads, and closing them is considered a war crime and a crime against humanity, because it cuts off food and medicine for citizens in those areas, and this is the biggest challenge.
Another challenge is the lack of funding allocated for health interventions. The need is greater than what is allocated for health interventions from the international community, and we need more funding.
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Are you able to meet the requirements of medical personnel under the current circumstances?
We are unable to fulfill their dues, and we thank them because they have been working for a very long time without salaries and benefits and with simple incentives. This segment played a very important role in securing the health system and the continuity of medical services, and they deserve all thanks, appreciation and respect.
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What is the pharmaceutical situation in Sudan?
The pharmaceutical situation in Sudan is better than before for two reasons. The first is the allocation of fixed sums from the Government of Sudan and the Ministry of Finance for basic and life-saving medicines, and these medical supplies helped open credits during the previous months.
As well as the positive and facilitating measures taken for the private sector and import companies, which contributed to increasing the import rate more than 5 times. This is in addition to what comes from United Nations agencies, grants and donations from brotherly and friendly countries.
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Are there hospitals run by Rapid Support?
We do not have a hospital run by Rapid Support, and Rapid Support does not actually manage hospitals and does not serve citizens in hospitals, even the hospitals in Darfur and Kordofan provide services to the citizens to whom we are trying to provide support and supplies.
When Rapid Support seizes a hospital, it places it at the service of its soldiers and the wounded, and employs all the hospital’s capabilities for that. This was apparent to us, and we consider it an occupation of hospitals such as the International Hospital, Khartoum Hospital, Al-Raqi Hospital, and East Nile Hospital. These hospitals were completely transformed to serve the militia soldiers, and other existing hospitals. In Kordofan and Darfur, we provide direct services to them as much as we can.
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What is your assessment of the losses inflicted on the health sector due to the war in Sudan?
As for the losses inflicted on the health sector, the loss of medical equipment, devices, pharmaceutical supplies, vandalism of hospitals, and looting of ambulances, transportation, shipping, etc. amounts to $11 billion. These are very large losses, and the assessment is still ongoing.
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What is the ratio of functioning hospitals to destroyed and partially affected hospitals now?
The number of hospitals in Sudan is 700, two-thirds of which provide service, and a third of hospitals do not provide service.
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How do you evaluate the interaction of United Nations and other organizations in providing health support to Sudan?
She works with us in the areas of health emergencies, epidemics, supply, maternal and child health, childhood immunizations, cholera and malaria vaccinations and more. But the need is greater than what is presented. The actual estimate of the health and humanitarian need, as stated in a United Nations report, is $4.7 billion, but what has arrived does not exceed 25% of this amount under the best circumstances and calculations.
