Kadugli , August 5(Darfur 24)
Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan State, is experiencing a worsening health crisis that threatens the lives of residents, amid a near-total collapse of medical services in public and private hospitals.
Local sources from the city of Kadugli told Darfur 24 on Monday that health facilities are no longer able to provide even the most basic treatment services, as all medical examinations have been suspended in hospitals.
They noted that patients are facing difficulty obtaining malaria treatment, and when they do obtain it, they are forced to take it without any confirmation from the examination, leading to complications and treatment failure, especially given the distribution of medications that may be inappropriate for the condition.
In the same context, medical sources from Kadugli Teaching Hospital revealed to Darfur 24 a severe deterioration in the work environment and a severe shortage of equipment and medicines.
According to medics ,hospital relies on medications that have been expired for more than a year, with a complete lack of intravenous solutions, antimalarial medications, and antibiotics. This is in addition to the lack of basic medical supplies such as gauze, sterilizers, and cotton wool, which disrupts the provision of basic care, even for emergency cases.
The sources indicated that the lack of oxygen and anesthetics has forced the medical staff to resort to using only local anesthesia for surgical procedures, including critical cases. This involves using “ketamine”, a substance that causes serious side effects that can be fatal, especially if oxygen is unavailable.
They stated that the city has witnessed several deaths in recent months as a result of the use of this type of anesthesia without the necessary oxygen. The most recent was the death of a well-known lawyer in Kadugli after undergoing surgery using this type of anesthesia.
Residents of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state, are suffering from deteriorating living and health conditions due to the siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces(RSF) on the one hand and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North on the other.
Local sources warn of an impending humanitarian disaster that could lead to famine.