Free Surgeries End Years of Pain in Sudan

SadaNews - For three years, Maha felt recurrent pain and endured a long suffering with unsuccessful treatment attempts. "Maha Mustafa," 45 years old, suffered from kidney stones for three years, during which she tried to get treatment without success.

She recounts that she moved between hospitals and made multiple attempts to relieve the pain, but she did not reach a solution.

On the first day of the free surgical camp at the Omdurman Hospital, Maha underwent a laser lithotripsy procedure, a medical treatment she says ended her long suffering and gave her a chance to recover after years of continuous pain.

In the bed opposite her lies "Sayed Hassan," who also shares her long journey with kidney stones. She describes years of pain and waiting, stating that just starting the medical procedures was remarkable for her, as she underwent laser lithotripsy that ended her suffering and restored her hope for a normal life.

The stories of Maha and Sayed reflect the reality of many patients who have suffered long with illness and found in this medical initiative an opportunity to receive the long-awaited treatment.

The details of the surgical camp return to the convoy organized by the Sudanese Doctors Association in Qatar, with the participation of doctors from Qatar and Sudan, at a time when the health sector is facing significant challenges due to the war.

The convoy, which is the sixth since the crisis erupted, targeted Al-Wafaq Qatari Hospital in the city of Al-Dabbah in the northern state of Sudan and Omdurman Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, offering free medical services including specialized surgeries, as well as training and qualifying medical staff, within the framework of experience exchange between Qatari doctors and their Sudanese counterparts.

Experience Exchange Among Medical Staff

Nader Ibrahim Abdoun, head of the Sudanese Doctors Association delegation in Qatar, states that the current surgical camp consists of two simultaneous camps: one in the northern state and the other in Khartoum state. He explains that the medical teams performed about 100 operations in the field of urology, including prostate tumors, stones, and pediatric surgeries, alongside examinations through upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies, as well as specialized clinics in kidney and urinary tract surgery and gastroenterology offering free treatments, examinations, and consultations.

He revealed the launch of the surgical camp at Omdurman Teaching Hospital in the capital Khartoum, aiming to perform 150 urological surgeries and 100 gastrointestinal endoscopies, along with specialized clinics. The delegation includes doctors from Qatar, including Abdullah Al-Naimi and Ahmed Hassan Al-Maliki, consultants in kidney and urinary tract surgery, in addition to seven specialists and consultants in the fields of kidney and gastroenterology surgery.

Abdoun affirms in his statement to SadaNews that the primary goal of these camps is to shorten the waiting time for patients for surgeries, perform complex surgeries that were halted due to the war, and assist patients through free examinations. He also added that the purpose of the convoys is to exchange experiences between medical staff inside Sudan and abroad, alongside training assistant staff in anesthesia and surgical preparations.

The free surgical camp comes in partnership between the Qatar Red Crescent Society, the Sudanese Doctors Association in Qatar, and the Kuwaiti Patient Support Fund, organized within the framework of joint cooperation between these entities to implement medical camps within the targeted hospitals in Khartoum and the northern state.

Medical Convoys as a Bridge of Communication

For his part, Salah Al-Dhak, head of the Qatar Red Crescent Society in Sudan, stated that the camp provides support for poor patients who cannot afford the treatment costs, in addition to rare surgeries that require specialized expertise.

Al-Dhak explained in his statement to SadaNews that the convoys represent bridges of communication between the Qatari and Sudanese people. He pointed out that they will continue in the coming period in several hospitals in Sudan to meet the existing medical needs.

The war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has led to a wide deterioration in the health sector in Sudan, with many hospitals going out of service or operating at limited capacity due to a shortage of medical personnel, equipment, and medications.

The hospitals that are still operating are facing increasing pressure due to the rising number of patients and lack of resources, while complex operations and delicate surgeries have been halted for long periods. The security and economic situation has also affected the access to medical supplies, making obtaining treatment a daily challenge for many patients.

A Message of Solidarity

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Al-Badri, the Minister of Health of Khartoum State, during his tour inside the complex of delicate surgical operations, stated that the medical convoys are considered one of the facets of support and supply, as they support patients and the health sector by providing medicines and facilitating treatment opportunities, also carrying a message to the Sudanese people that they are not alone in facing the crisis.

He affirmed in statements to SadaNews that these convoys represent direct support for the health sector which faces significant challenges due to the war.

During his meeting with the doctors of the association inside the operating complex, Al-Badri expressed his appreciation for the role that such associations play in bridging the therapeutic gap by providing free and specialized medical services.

In the meeting, Qatari doctor Abdullah Al-Naimi expressed that he feels he is among his family and brothers, indicating that their participation in these convoys is not just a medical act, but a message of humanitarian solidarity with the Sudanese people in times of crisis.

Source: SadaNews