Doctors under siege in Sudan - The Mail & Guardian

Doctors are celebrating a small victory in Sudan after the government issued a law earlier this month that will protect healthcare workers in the country. The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, a civil society group pivotal in the revolution that ousted former president Omar al-Bashir, said attacks on medical teams by security forces and civilians had become a common phenomenon, especially in emergency units when security of health personnel is paramount.

It was a mass attack against doctors at Omdurman Hospital on May 20 that triggered the strike ultimatum, Ajab said. After a man succumbed to a knife wound, the patient’s family started a massive assault against the medical staff, according to Dr M Ahmed, one of the victims of the attack. Khartoum staff shortages have led many, if not most, hospitals to shut down. This takes place at a time at which around 90% of confirmed coronavirus infections in the country are in the capital, according to the health ministry. There are currently 8 889 confirmed cases in Sudan.

“Our last protest was a result of an attack on doctors in the hospital after we admitted four patients with gun wounds,” said Dr Hussain Osman. The medical team was unable to save all of the wounded patients. “After one doctor treated the wounds, the assailant attacked him and made it visibly clear that he was carrying a gun … he even attacked a police officer at the hospital.”

“We are saddened by the incident and demand the government and entities involved to guarantee the safety of staff and patients in order for our services to continue,” Paulsson said in a statement. “MSF remains committed to continue delivering lifesaving medical assistance to the people of Rokero and Central Darfur, but there needs to be assurances that these unacceptable situations won’t be repeated.

“There is no PPE for all medical staff in almost all hospitals, except for those working in emergency departments; all others deal with patients only with surgical masks, including those working in the high-risk ICU ,” Dr Hameda Zakria said.

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