7 September 2025 – Fathia, a 54-year-old Sudanese refugee in Egypt, describes the situation back in Sudan as horrific. Dependent on haemodialysis sessions, she had to travel long distances to a medical centre, where she was repeatedly stopped by armed groups and asked for money and gasoline. Together with other patients, she used to collect money to buy fuel some to hand over to the armed groups at checkpoints, and some to keep the hospital generator running so that the dialysis machine could work.
The situation became even worse. When the centre was bombed and the hospital staff member responsible for running the sessions was killed, Fathia decided to flee with her family to Egypt, seeking both safety and lifesaving treatment.
With little savings after arriving in Egypt, Fathia struggled to access the dialysis she urgently needed. At first she received sessions through a charity organization, but when prices rose, she found herself in a very difficult position. Relief came when she learned through the Sudanese Embassy in Egypt about the support available to renal failure patients, made possible through an agreement between WHO Egypt and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Population.
After submitting her data and completing medical tests, she was referred to Imbaba Hospital, where she now receives two free haemodialysis sessions per week.
Under the agreement, and with a generous US$ 3.6 million contribution from KSrelief, free haemodialysis sessions and medications will be provided to 1000 Sudanese renal failure patients.
To date, 207 patients are enrolled in the project for haemodialysis sessions, and another 182 patients are receiving medications following renal transplantation. Care is provided across 20 hospitals in Cairo, Giza, Aswan, and Alexandria governorates.
Fathia is now receiving the lifesaving treatment she needs, along with many others. WHO Egypt continues to work with KSrelief, the Ministry of Health and Population and other health partners to ensure that no one is left behind.