Spread of diseases overwhelms Khartoum hospitals in war-ravaged Sudan

In Khartoum, Sudan, as a result of a mosquito-borne outbreak, the corridors of Omdurman Hospital have been transformed into a makeshift ward for patients with dengue fever.

With thousands of cases reported, the disease has become the ideal breeding ground for further development due to the persistent rains.

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Mohammed Siddig, a patient, explained that he had dengue fever symptoms two weeks ago and had been tested at a nearby health facility, one of the few extensive medical facilities in the capital.

According to Siddig, “I was referred to a hospital and they couldn’t treat me, so I was taken to Omdurman Hospital.”

Khartoum is attempting to rebuild after nearly two and a half years of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Nearly half of the hospitals in the capital have been destroyed, according to Sudanese authorities.

The war, which started in April 2023, has led to a number of mass displacement, ethnic killings, and the worst humanitarian crisis ever to hit the world.

Abdul Rahman Abdalla, the brother of the Omdurman Hospital patient, claimed that his condition “no improvement.”

He claimed that he has only received IVs and that there hasn’t been any improvement.

In just one area of the capital, more than 5, 000 cases of malaria, typhoid, and dengue fever, as well as dozens of fatalities, have been reported in the past month.

At a time when thousands of people are visiting the capital, Sudan’s health centers are under strain due to the rise in cases. Some patients have been forced to seek alternative medical care due to the hospital congestion and lack of supplies.

Mohamed Ali’s home was returned to Khartoum North after the SAF recaptured the city in March. Ali chose home remedies over medical care despite having positive results for dengue fever and malaria.

Because the health center in our district isn’t properly equipped, I was tested at a different district. Because I couldn’t get malaria treatment, I made the decision to stay in. Because it’s quicker than hospital wait, Ali told Al Jazeera, “I’m also taking traditional remedies.”

However, aid organizations have cautioned that there is a higher likelihood of the number of cases involving those who have positive tests for the diseases.