WHO Director Visits Sudan to Assess Health Conditions Amid​ Ongoing Conflict

The‌ World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently visited Sudan to assess ⁢the country’s health conditions amidst ⁣the ongoing ​conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the⁢ Rapid⁣ Aid Forces.

According ‌to the⁤ WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Hassan Balkhi, the health situation in Sudan is “collapsed and complex in some areas, and coherent in⁢ others, thanks⁣ to Sudanese⁤ doctors who work day and​ night to provide⁣ services to patients.”⁢ Balkhi emphasized the importance of the visit, stating that it allowed the WHO to closely examine the health situation in the country, particularly the health conditions of ‍children⁢ and the general population.

The WHO Director-General visited⁢ the Children’s ⁤Accident Hospital in Port⁤ Sudan, where he inspected the malnutrition ward, which‍ was ⁤overcrowded with a⁤ large number ⁣of sick children.‍ The hospital’s medical director, Ayman Abdel Qader, described the visit as “very important” and announced that Tedros promised to establish a​ new‌ hospital for children.

Sudan’s Minister‌ of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, welcomed the ​WHO​ Director-General’s‌ visit, stating that it⁢ demonstrates ‍the organization’s support for Sudan during this challenging ‍period.⁣ The minister emphasized that⁤ the WHO’s⁤ work goes beyond financial aid, ⁢as it ⁢also stimulates the efforts of other international organizations‍ to finance activities in Sudan.

The ongoing conflict has had​ a devastating impact on Sudan’s healthcare system, with over 80% of hospitals and medical facilities out of service. The WHO‍ has warned that access to humanitarian aid and‌ health‍ services in ‍Sudan is​ severely ‍limited,‍ with approximately 15 million people in need of urgent ‍healthcare, ⁣including maternal and newborn‌ care, cancer treatment, and management of chronic diseases such as ⁢diabetes.

The​ WHO ‌Director-General’s visit⁤ to Sudan is a crucial step towards addressing the country’s healthcare crisis. The organization’s efforts to provide support and resources​ to Sudanese healthcare workers will be essential in‌ mitigating the impact of⁣ the conflict on the country’s healthcare system.