The critical state of children's health during the Sudan crisis

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Sudan has been struggling to deal with a socioeconomic predicament that began in April, 2019, after widespread demonstrations against the governance strategies of the former head of state, Omar al-Bashir. As a result of these strategies, the health-care situation in Sudan was already in a state of decline before the 6 days of intense violence from April 15 to April 20, 2023, 1 Al JazeeraSudan fighting in its sixth day: here is a list of key events. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/20/sudan-fighting-enters-day-6-what-to-knowDate: April, 20, 2023 Date accessed: April 20, 2023 Google Scholar which only exacerbated the country's already dire humanitarian crisis. The UNHCR estimates that by June 12, 2023, approximately 1·43 million individuals had been internally displaced and that 467 195 individuals had emigrated from Sudan since April 15, 2023. The chaotic situation's disruption of the nation's fragile health-care system is likely to have a disproportionate effect on the more than 10 million Sudanese children in need of health-care assistance, particularly those who are malnourished or have other illnesses. 2 UNICEFEscalating violence in Sudan puts millions of children at risk. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/escalating-violence-sudan-puts-millions-children-riskDate: April 20, 2023 Date accessed: April 20, 2023 Google Scholar The high prevalence in Sudan of malaria, hepatitis E, and dengue fever already contributes to the increased need for health-care assistance of the population. 3 Ismail Z Aborode AT Oyeyemi AA et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on viral hepatitis in Africa: challenges and way forward. Int J Health Plann Manage. 2022; 37: 547-552 Crossref PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar Medical facilities are experiencing challenges in meeting the demand for pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, even as they persist in providing care to individuals who sustained injuries during the current armed conflict or intercommunal altercations. 4 Soyemi TS Aborode AT Shortage of hospital bed capacity and overcrowding in emergency tertiary healthcare centers in Nigeria. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022; 82104675 PubMed Google Scholar