the Collapse of Healthcare Services

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has brought the nation’s healthcare system to it’s knees, with Khartoum bearing the brunt of the crisis. Approximately 80% of the capital’s hospitals are non-functional, and those still operating face severe shortages of life-saving medications and medical supplies. This collapse has created a particularly dire situation for women, who are now struggling to access basic and emergency medical care.

The suspension of services in numerous hospitals, many teetering on the brink of complete collapse, has had a devastating impact. The already fragile infrastructure is further strained by the difficulty women face in reaching health centers due to security concerns and logistical challenges. This has lead to a spike in maternal deaths and complications during pregnancy.

Laila Abu Zaid, a resident of the Jabra area in Khartoum, described the situation as “catastrophic and tragic,” noting the lack of safe passage and ambulances, making it nearly unfeasible to save lives, especially for pregnant women and patients with chronic conditions like kidney failure and diabetes.

the impact extends beyond Khartoum. While international attention frequently enough focuses on the capital, the ripple effects are felt across the country, exacerbating existing inequalities in healthcare access.

Specific Challenges Faced by Women

Several factors contribute to the heightened vulnerability of women during this crisis:

• Lack of Reproductive Healthcare: With hospitals closed, pregnant women are unable to receive prenatal care, safe delivery services, or postnatal care.
• Increased Risk of Maternal Mortality: The inability to access emergency obstetric care substantially increases the risk of death during childbirth.
• Looting of Medical Facilities: The Emergency Room in South Khartoum reported that “more than five clinics where looted,” forcing medical personnel to evacuate, further reducing available services.
• Malnutrition and Disease: Limited access to food and clean water contributes to malnutrition, increasing susceptibility to diseases like dengue and typhoid, which disproportionately affect pregnant women.

Adding to the distress, the withdrawal of organizations like doctors without Borders (MSF) from key facilities such as Bishara Hospital –the only hospital serving several neighborhoods in south Khartoum– has worsened the health conditions, severely limiting access to care.

The situation has become so dire that, according to reports, the Kalakala and Jabal Awliya locality recorded six women’s deaths in one week due to poisoning from fetal demise, compounded by anemia stemming from poor nutrition and lack of essential vitamins.

Humanitarian Interventions and Efforts

The Sudanese Minister of Health, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, has acknowledged the severity of the crisis, reporting a maternal mortality rate of 295 per 100,000 births and an infant mortality rate of 51 per 1,000 live births.He emphasized the urgent need for intervention and announced the advancement of a strategic plan for 2025, requiring over $200 million in funding from the Sudanese goverment, partners, and donors.

Ibrahim stated that the government has “reached an agreement with global health organizations,” including UNICEF, “and some donors in order to focus efforts to reduce mothers of mothers and children, through the integration of joint efforts and tight coordination to meet the actual need and increase interest.”

However, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that funding prospects for 2025 are bleak, with international aid increasingly threatened. They emphasized that “the specific needs of women and girls are often ignored in the humanitarian response, which is one of the sectors that suffers from a lack of funding.”

While collaborative efforts are underway to restore maternal health services, these initiatives are currently insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs.

Personal Accounts of Suffering

Manal Saif Al-Din, a resident of the Al-Jarif region, shared her experience of risking her life to transport her elderly mother from Khartoum to Omdurman for urgent heart catheterization. She highlighted the widespread suffering from chronic diseases and the despair of neighbors who cannot afford medical care and mourns those unable to save the lives of their loved ones.

Al-din further noted that “the depletion of financial savings for the majority of the stranded in Khartoum, as well as hospitals stopping work and the lack of medical assistants, are all factors that contributed to several deaths for women in the three cities of the capital Bahri, Omdurman and Khartoum.”

These personal accounts underscore the urgent need for increased support and assistance to alleviate the suffering of women and families in Sudan.

The Broader context: Obstacles and Challenges

Dr.Noah Mahjoub, a physician at the Turkish Hospital in Khartoum, emphasized that women are disproportionately affected by the suspension of hospital services and the shortages of essential supplies.The disruption of specialized services,such as kidney,brain,nerve,and heart surgeries,further compounds the problem.

Mahjoub stressed that delays in receiving medical attention can prove fatal, particularly for critical cases requiring immediate intervention, such as childbirth complications, gunshot wounds, and fractures. Breastfeeding mothers are also significantly impacted, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the conflict on women’s health.

To address these challenges effectively, humanitarian organizations and the international community must prioritize the following:

• Secure safe access for humanitarian actors to reach affected populations.
• Increase funding for reproductive and maternal health services.
• Support and protect healthcare workers who continue to provide care under extremely tough conditions.
• Strengthen community-based healthcare initiatives to reach women in remote areas.

Potential Counterarguments and Considerations

While the focus is on women’s health, it’s important to acknowledge that the conflict affects all segments of the population. Resources are scarce, and difficult decisions must be made about where to allocate aid. Some may argue that focusing solely on women’s health neglects other critical needs.

Though, prioritizing women’s health is not about exclusion but about recognizing the specific vulnerabilities and needs that arise during conflict. Investing in women’s health has a ripple effect, benefiting families and communities as a whole. Moreover, neglecting women’s health can have long-term consequences for the country’s development and stability.

Data Snapshot: Key Health indicators Under Crisis

Note: Current Crisis Estimates are based on available reports and expert analysis given the limited data collection amid conflict.