Nyala, June 04 (Darfur24)
Three kidney failure patients, including a woman, died in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, after a dialysis center suspended services during the Eid al-Adha holiday, according to residents and medical sources.
Citizens told Darfur24 on Wednesday that the closure of the dialysis center deprived patients of their scheduled treatment sessions, leading to deaths and raising concerns about the continued deterioration of healthcare services for kidney patients in the city.
Residents said deaths linked to kidney disease have been increasing, although no official statistics are available. They attributed the worsening situation to a shortage of specialized medical staff and the high cost of treatment, with a single dialysis session estimated at around 300,000 Sudanese pounds.
The dialysis unit at Nyala Specialized Hospital has faced recurring operational challenges since the outbreak of the war, according to patients’ families and residents.
Families previously told Darfur24 that dialysis services have effectively become fee-based, with patients required to cover the costs of fuel for generators, intravenous fluids, and other medical supplies needed to keep the center operational.
Residents also reported that health authorities have yet to address the crisis, noting that the number of dialysis sessions available to patients has been reduced from two per week to one due to resource shortages and rising operational costs.
Darfur24 previously documented the deaths of more than 13 kidney patients between November and December last year among approximately 50 patients receiving treatment at the center.
In response to the crisis, volunteer groups have launched community initiatives to provide medical supplies and fuel for generators in an effort to keep the dialysis service running.