Kalma, March 09 (Darfur24)
A growing health crisis is unfolding in Kalma Internally Displaced Persons, east of Nyala city in South Darfur State, where large numbers of children are suffering from malnutrition and measles, amid reports of rising deaths and severe shortages of medical care.
Hanan Hassan, the women’s affairs officer in the camp, told Darfur24 on Sunday that 1,286 cases of malnutrition had been recorded, including 721 critical cases in Center One and Center Four.
She added that the cases also include pregnant and breastfeeding women, during the period from January to early March.
Hanan explained that measles infections are increasing among children, with 70 to 90 cases recorded daily, according to field research and statistics from health centers.
She noted that some cases never reach health facilities and are instead treated with local herbs inside homes, pointing out that the camp suffers from a shortage of medical personnel and medicines. In many cases, patients are only given a dose of aspirin to reduce fever.
Kalma camp, which hosts over 300,000 displaced people, is facing severe pressure on its healthcare services. The camp has only three health centers, which are unable to meet the needs of the large displaced population, according to the camp’s general administration.