The Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) is an exciting and commendable nonprofit operating in multiple capacities to increase health care access in Sudan and ease the suffering of the people. The organization provides a forum for medical professionals of Sudanese descent within the United States (U.S.) to collaborate, as well as promote the advancement of health care, medical practice, clinical and basic sciences education and research. Furthermore, SAPA actively strives to enhance the quality of graduate training for Sudanese physicians as well as increase collaboration across the developed and developing world.

Current Events in Sudan

Sudan currently faces a severe civil war that has intensified longstanding poverty challenges, including access to health care, food security and economic stability. These issues have deep roots in Sudan, with significant disparities emerging more than 30 years ago following the creation of the ‘Hamdi Triangle,’ a relatively prosperous area within a day’s travel from Khartoum, amidst widespread poverty.

The effect of this has been to concentrate Sudanese wealth into this relatively small geographical area, with Khartoum receiving as much as 85% of total investment in Sudan in 2007. On top of this, the central government collects 97% of all tax revenue in the country, meaning that states are increasingly reliant on transfers from the central government to maintain the delivery of basic services. The combination of these factors, as well as the civil war, means that living in Sudan is difficult enough, but those far from the capital city suffer especially.

Although SAPA also tackles food insecurity and addresses hygiene deficiencies, this article will focus on how the organization is miraculously increasing health care access in both urban and rural settings, taking targeted action in multiple areas that demand assistance as the war and subsequent humanitarian crisis unfold.

Khartoum

SAPA partnered with Elbuluk Hospital in July 2023 to bolster primary health care and nutrition services for pediatric patients and, ‘as the sole pediatric hospital operating in the region, it has become a lifeline for more than a million people residing, just outside of Khartoum. SAPA’s work attracted UNICEF, which joined the initiative in November 2023, and by December, health care access had already substantially increased, with many children seen for consultations, vaccinations and general checkups.

SAPA also supported the establishment of specialized clinics focusing on diabetic patients and an encompassing approach to pediatric care. These types of initiatives are desperately needed throughout Khartoum, where specialized pediatric and maternal care facilities are increasingly being converted into mass casualty response centers. The Turkish Hospital in southern Khartoum highlighted a significant gap in prenatal, postnatal and vaccination services in late 2023, underscoring the urgent need for such health care provisions.

Northern state

In February 2024, the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA) launched the Provision of Primary Health Care Services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Host Communities in Northern State – Sudan project, in collaboration with USAID and IOM. Despite Northern State’s low contribution to Sudanese poverty before the conflict, it hosted 403,000 IDPs by February 18, 2024. The influx strains host community health services and raises concerns about increasing food insecurity.

Wad Madani

Another display of forward-thinking by SAPA is the work it is currently undertaking in Wad Madani, Sudan’s second biggest city. The exodus of citizens from Khartoum, as well as other areas of the country, means that there are now nearly 8 million internally displaced individuals. In direct response to the displacement of people from Khartoum to Wad Madani, SAPA established a health center to provide essential care, offering family medicine, pediatric services and gynecology.

With the conflict now raging in the city where the SAPA headquarters are located, the organization finds itself in a challenging position. It is dangerous work for the organization, which remains committed to the health center and several mobile clinics it operates in Wad Madani, even with the possibility of being subject to violence. With at least 60 verified attacks on health care establishments and many humanitarian and health worker deaths during the war, SAPA staff understand the risks of their work.

Looking Ahead

SAPA’s commitment and efforts in Sudan deserve widespread recognition and support. Above all, the organization tirelessly operates across the nation in various capacities, with its staff on the ground facing daily risks to ensure the Sudanese people maintain access to health care.

– Arshiya Eslamdoust
Photo: Unsplash