Internal conflict fueled by colonial-era policies has caused an ongoing humanitarian disruption in Sudan. The years-long civil dispute has created dire challenges for healthcare systems in the region as increasing occurrences of damaged infrastructure throughout the country have forced medical services to adapt.
The increasing number of displaced individuals in Sudan due to acts of violence between the Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has brought additional healthcare obstacles. Poverty rates have increased along with heightened health risks due to unstable medical services. A vicious cycle of negative impacts has begun, resulting in a domino effect of social, health, and economic repercussions.
A recent takeover of the National Public Health Laboratory in Khartoum, which contains biological material such as disease samples, has been declared “extremely dangerous” by the United Nations (UN). One of the fighting parties currently occupies the facility with technicians denied access, posing a significant public health risk of accidental exposure to bio-hazardous contents and pathogens left unattended.
Current approaches to mitigate public health challenges in Sudan stress the importance of rebuilding infrastructure, recruiting medical personnel, and creating educational resources for those affected. Efforts are focused on involving national and international organizations in recovering vulnerable, affected populations and transitioning them back to safe conditions.
by Maya Yorks