Mellit, November 07 (Darfur24)
Women and girls of reproductive age in Mellit, 65 kilometers north of El Fasher in North Darfur State, are facing shortages of sanitary pads and essential reproductive health services, as supplies to the city have stopped and prices continue to rise.
Asma Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, a resident of Mellit, told Darfur24 that women’s health and primary healthcare services face major challenges, including a lack of health facilities, medical equipment for routine examinations, and specialist doctors.
She said some women die during childbirth because of inadequate medical equipment, particularly during cesarean sections. Women requiring the procedure must travel approximately 280 kilometers to Nyala, increasing the risks associated with delays in receiving emergency medical care.
A volunteer in the city told Darfur24 that the main challenges facing women and girls include shortages of sanitary pads, inadequate primary healthcare services and the rising cost of feminine hygiene products.
She said a packet of sanitary pads costs as much as 10,000 Sudanese pounds, putting them beyond the reach of many women and girls.
The volunteer added that some girls have resorted to using unsterilized pieces of cloth as alternatives to sanitary pads, exposing them to potential infections and other health complications, particularly given the limited availability of medical care.
Women interviewed in the city called for the deployment of obstetricians and gynecologists, the equipping of operating rooms to perform cesarean sections, and the provision of sanitary pads and other essential supplies for women and girls of reproductive age.
They urged humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently to address the growing needs.
