16 July 2018 – WHO and health partners in Sudan have launched a 1-year project to rehabilitate and equip 5 health clinics and support 4 others in East Jebel Marra, South Darfur, in a bid to improve health services for 242 000 displaced people. The clinics are considered a priority in an area which has had limited access to health services for more than 10 years. 

The project is led by WHO and national health partners and funded by the Sudan Humanitarian Fund. 

“The clinics require full rehabilitation after years of operating at reduced capacity due to lack of qualified medical staff and medical supplies, combined with the detrimental impact of more than 10 years of conflict,” said Dr Naeema Al Gasseer, WHO Representative in Sudan. “Recent conflict and new displacements in the area have put even more pressure on these facilities to provide urgently needed services.” 

“This key project will expand Ministry of Health and WHO’s reach in Sudan to include parts of the population previously uncovered by basic health care. WHO will contribute up to US$1 million of its own funding to cover the cost of medicines and medical supplies in the newly accessible areas,” added Dr Al Gasseer.

Located across 9 villages in South Darfur’s East Jebel Marra locality, the clinics will provide direct access to medical treatment and essential medicines for at least 221 000 patients including severely malnourished children with medical complications. WHO and partners are also working to provide health interventions, such as outbreak investigation and community health promotion activities, for at least 21 000 people, and training all health personnel in the clinics on case management and disease surveillance.

All 9 clinics are run by the State Ministry of Health in partnership with the National Initiative Development Organization.