The medical director of El Geneina Hospital in Sudan’s West Darfur State has reported a marked increase in malaria cases in the city, saying hundreds of patients are now visiting the hospital each day seeking treatment for the disease.
Dr. Al-Shafie Younis told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the hospital’s supply of medicines was “excellent and sufficient” to meet the current demand. He credited the efforts of health workers and partner organizations operating in the health sector with helping to address gaps and ensure the delivery of medical services to patients.
He warned that malaria cases are likely to escalate in the coming days, but said El Geneina Hospital was prepared to receive patients while continuing to improve the quality of healthcare services provided.
“The hospital has established an emergency response team and informed the Emergency Department at the Ministry of Health about developments in the health situation to contain the rising infection rate,” he said. “Spraying campaigns have been carried out and several preventive measures implemented, including the distribution of mosquito nets.”
Meanwhile, a resident confirmed to this publication that the number of malaria patients at El Geneina Hospital was rising. He criticized what he described as shortages of some medicines, as well as inadequate training among some of the health workers employed at the facility.
“Some diagnostic tests are unavailable at the hospital and have to be conducted at private laboratories outside the facility for a fee,” he said.
He argued that a major hospital requires properly qualified medical personnel, stressing that individuals who have received only basic first-aid or home-care training should not be assigned specialized healthcare responsibilities.
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