SUDAN
Eastern Sudan is experiencing outbreaks of cholera and dengue fever, placing more pressure on the country’s already overburdened healthcare system. In the midst of deadly clashes between military and rival paramilitary forces, thousands of people are sheltering in crowded camps, with little or no access to proper sanitation or medical care.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 80 cases of cholera have been confirmed with 10 deaths, while more than 500 cases of dengue fever have been reported, although the actual figure is believed to be much higher. The WHO added that most of the dengue fever patients rely on home remedies and avoid hospitals.
The medical charity Doctors Without Borders has opened two treatment centers, while WHO and the UN refugee agency have renovated isolation centers in Qadarif province. This latest outbreak underlines the need for Sudan to find a political solution to its ongoing conflict.
