Khartoum, February 07 (Darfur24)
After more than two years of closure, the administration of Al-Tijani Al-Mahi Psychiatric Hospital in Khartoum is working to restore its services amid growing demand linked to war-related trauma. A Darfur24 visit found dozens of patients attending referral clinics, with daily visits reaching about 50 cases. Hospital records indicate that most patients suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, alongside a rise in addiction cases among young people.
Hospital officials expect patient numbers to increase as displaced families and returning residents continue to arrive in Khartoum. However, inpatient services remain suspended while maintenance work is ongoing.
Hospital director Dr. Mai Mohamed Youssef warned of the growing spread of drug misuse, noting that the facility receives daily cases involving addiction to substances, including haloperidol and crystal meth. In an interview with Darfur24, she also reported an increase in obsessive-compulsive disorder and social phobia, particularly among displaced people.
Dr. Mai explained that most cases seen at the referral clinics are new patients, while many former patients experienced relapses after treatment was interrupted during the hospital’s closure. This, she said, has complicated recovery efforts.
Because inpatient care is not yet available, critical cases are transferred to the Military Medical Hospital, while others are forced to seek treatment in private centers at high cost. The hospital administration is attempting to manage cases through outpatient care whenever possible.
The director added that a severe shortage of medical staff has further strained operations. The hospital currently employs six specialists and consultants, compared with about 20 before the war.
Maintenance work is expected to be completed within three months, after which the hospital aims to resume full operations. Before the conflict, the facility had a capacity of 100 beds.