1

Issue No. 1

April 2015

Heal th Sector Quarter ly Bul l et in

SudanSudanSudan Health

Health Sector response to Mea-sles outbreak

1

Setting up of National Health Emergency Call Center (ECC)

2

Health with a difference : Positively impacting the envi-ronment

6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

As of 19 April, 3539 suspected mea-

sles cases (with 2015 confirmed) have

been reported from 32 localities in 14

states of Sudan including 25 deaths .

(CFR: 1.2%)

The High Level Committee and

Health Sector Measles Outbreak Re-

sponse and Containment Coordination

meetings are held weekly under the

leadership of MOH/WHO in Khar-

toum. The Health Sector coordination

meetings to assess the response and

address the gap are also held regular

in affected states.

The initial localized response immun-

ization campaign was conducted from

19-23 January in 11 localities of

Gedaref and Kassala with 95 % and

97% coverage respectively.

With MSF-E support localized vac-

cination campaign was conducted in

Elseref locality of North Darfur from

25 March for 10 days. The Response

vaccination campaign started on 22

April 2015 in 28 first priority high

risk localities of six states as shown in

the map.

WHO, UNICEF, NGOs and MSFs are

supporting state ministries with drugs

and medical supplies for measles case

management, surveillance including

daily reporting, active case finding

and health education campaigns.

UNICEF procured the required vac-

cine.

Health Sector envelope from CHF standard allocation stands at US$ 3,489,000

The Programmatic Review Group reviewed 22 submitted “Concept Notes” based on guidelines set out in the GMS and

recommended 13 concept notes /NGOs for full proposal development and CHF 1st Standard Allocation. Among the

agencies recommended are seven INGOs, five NNGOs and one UN agency. 09 NGOs could not get funds from CHF 1st

Standard Allocation , therefore the delivery of health humanitarian assistance by national NGOs may be disrupted.

The total Health Sector requirement for 2015 is US$ 65 million and it is only 8% funded excluding the CHF. Some na-

tional NGOs are facing huge challenge to secure resources and it will affect delivery of health services .

Health Sector response to Measles

2

Emergency and Humanitarian Ac-

tion and Epidemic Response Direc-

torate at Federal Ministry of Health

is almost in the final stages to have a

functioning Emergency Call Center

(ECC) to be coordinated by EHA

Directorate at FMOH. This facility

will be the site for the Health Sector

Emergency Operation Center too.

It has video conferencing facility

and connectivity with the States be-

side „Hot Line „ access to the popu-

lation--- (get the number ) . The

ECC will handle both acute and

large scale emergencies with the

capacity to provide risk communica-

tion messages to the public includ-

ing public health messages. ECC is

expected to handle a considerable

volume of calls at the same time, to

screen calls and forward them to

the identified qualified technical

staff where the call to be handled

and logged.

For every telephone call received,

the assigned technical team deter-

mine the nature of the emergency

and the location of the caller, and

then assists in the dispatch of appro-

priate emergency services with a

smooth coordination with the related

partners in FMOH and the health

sector.

The Health ECC also is planned to

assist the FMOH providing coordi-

nated customized timely information

to the public through voice calls,

SMSs and social media. Such con-

tinued engagement is enhance the

community‟s participation and pre-

paredness for emergencies and solic-

it their support in response.

The ECC staff have been trained to

address and resolve most frequent

public health emergency calls and

Setting up of National Health Emergency Call Center (ECC) by FMoH

are going to be monitored of quality re-

sponses including referrals.

Ebola preparedness training workshop in Khartoum

WHO Sudan in collaboration with Federal Ministry of

Health, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region office and HQ

organized the first sub-regional Ebola outbreak prepared-

ness training between 15-to 19 March 2015 in Khartoum. A total of 42 participants from multi-disciplinary areas,

with 35 from the Sudan Federal and State Minis-

tries of Health, including epidemiologists , emergency spe-

cialists, public health, laboratory technicians and nurs-

es, and seven participants from Yemen Ministry of Health.

The training of the countries Rapid response Teams to pan-

demics and outbreaks of emerging diseases (Including Ebo-

la Virus Disease) included one and a half day of lectures,

group discussions and exercises, and two and a half days of

practical application and simulation in the field of risk as-

sessment and alert investigation, infection prevention and

control, surveillance, contact tracing, collection and

transport of samples, community engagement and risk com-

munication, and safe burial. Half day was used discussions

on learning and knowledge transfer, suggestion for the im-

provement of the training module and agreement on the

next steps.

His Excellency the Federal Minister of Health and WHO Country Repre-sentative addressing the participants

Hands on training for Rapid Response teams

3

Support for measles outbreak controlSupport for measles outbreak controlSupport for measles outbreak control

WHO jointly with MOH and health partners had conducted

48 alert verification missions in the affected states that ena-

bled the confirmation of the measles outbreak.

WHO has supported training of more than 200 health pro-

fessional on case management in Kassala, Red Sea, West

and North Darfur, ensured minor rehabilitation and provision

of equipment for the establishment of isolation centre in

West Darfur and donated medical supplies for measles case

management (2 DDK, 10 IEHK, 20 RRK, iv fluids, and

antibiotics) in West, North, and Central Darfur, Kassala and

Gedaref. In addition medical supplies necessary for case-

management in all affected Darfur states, South Kordofan,

White Nile, Kassala and Red Sea sufficient for one addi-

tional month have been prepositioned. Health awareness

campaign supported in Kalma and Kass camps covering

more than 4000 people.

WHO and health partners continues support to save lives in Sudan

Blue Nile: The gap of medicines availa-

bility identified during the inter-sector

assessment of the new displacement in

Buleng, Azaza, and Al Gari, Gamberda

and Diglog, has been addressed by do-

nating 5 RRK kits to Pancare to cover

10,000 population for 3 month, and IV

fluids and medical supplies for the re-

ferral hospital.

Eastern states: WHO has completed

the rehabilitation of 7 Therapeutic Feed-

ing Centers in Red Sea State and pro-

vide operational support to Talaweet ,

national NGO for the functioning of 14

health facilities rural Kassala; 21000

consultations conducted during report-

ing period.

South Darfur: . WHO directly support-

ed with operational cost and medicines

the delivery of PHCC services for more

than 339,000 IDPs and host communi-

ties in Kalma, Ottash, Dereige, Al

Salam through ARC, SRCS, NIDO and

Mubadiroon.

60 RRK, and 38 IEHK distributed, and

120 (68 female) health staff trained.

East Darfur: WHO had supported the

PHC services in Labado and Mujaheria

and the repair of the Addilla and Eddain

hospital is in the stage of detailed plan-

ning.

North Darfur: WHO provided urgent

support to Seeker, ANHAR, HAD and

ministry of health for the health cover-

age of the newly displaced in Tawilla,

Zamzam, Mallet, and El Sayahn. WHO

supported 2 mobile clinics in Tawilla,

operation of 5 PHC clinics in Shagra,

Golo, Korma, Zamzam, and Mallet,

with more than 86,941 consultation re-

ported (45.7% children less than 5, and

51 % female). A total of 6,839 (7.9% of

total consultations) critically ill cases

were referred. WHO has donated medi-

cines & supplies to cover the needs of

160,000 beneficiaries.. Together with

MOH, WHO distributed 40,000 posters

around Tawilla locality, and 100 com-

munity health promoters have been

trained on hygiene/sanitation and health

promotion.

White Nile: WHO provided medicines

and operational support to 3 partners

and 6 clinics with around 50,000 con-

sultations conducted; main morbidities,

ARI, Malaria and Diarrhea.

Provision of emergency health care for people in need Provision of emergency health care for people in need Provision of emergency health care for people in need

4

UNFPA Support Fistula Centre and Midwifery School in West Darfur

UNFPA has supported the rehabilitation

of the Fistula Center in ElGeneina teach-

ing hospital by adding a fistula ward, ren-

ovating the operation room-latrines and

replacing some windows. The organiza-

tion has supported the midwifery school

with ten training models and participated

in the graduation ceremony of batch 15 of

village midwives to raise the midwife cov-

erage in the state to 42%. UNFPA has

sponsored 30 of the graduated midwives.

Musa Khater Mohamed is a 12 month old baby and his

mother is Manahel Adam. They live in Krenik IDP camp.

During a routine home visit from one of Save the Children

(SC) Community Health Workers (CHW), he found that

Musa was suffering from a wound in his abdomen and left

thigh. This had been left untreated for 3 months and no

medical advice had been sought. The wounds had been di-

agnosed by the parent as spider bites and had been treated

through tradition methods with tree roots. However, there

was no response to this treatment and the wound became

more inflamed and Musa started to suffer from a fever. The

SC community health promoter advised Manahel to take her

baby to the hospital and gave her a referral to be seen by

medical staff. Manahel went to the hospital with Musa and

was seen by a SC Medical Doctor. The Doctor performed a

clinical examination and laboratory investigation and diag-

nosed Musa with a chronic infected wound, cutaneous lesh-

maniasis Musa was admitted to the pediatric ward and re-

ceived dressing for the wound and was provided with anti-

biotics and analgesic. The wound became clean and Musa

was discharged in good condition with an oral antibiotic for

follow up. Musa‟s mother continued to follow up and care

for Musa until he was fully recovered

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is treatable

UNICEF support training of Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA)

UNICEF in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health continues to support the

pre-service training of Skilled Birth Attendants. 233 Midwifery Students from South

and East Darfur States have completed the second term of the curriculum in Omdur-

man and Khartoum North Midwifery Schools. This group will be graduated as Com-

munity Midwives in July 2015, and expected to contribute to the improvement of

Maternal and Child health in Darfur.

A new group of 200 selected midwives from North, West and Central Darfur States

are expected to start basic midwifery training in April 2015.

5

It was a big surprise for her! Fatima Mohamemd (24), a

mother 4 kids and resident at Hay Kass in South Darfur

was visited at her house by the health education campaign-

ers last week. The busy housewife expressed her excitement

that she is so happy now to know many useful tips that can

save lives of her kids. As she mentioned it was the very first

time to be visited by a health educator. The message deliv-

ered printed such an impression in her mind that she said: “I

never got the chance to hear such valuable health message

relating to the health and well- being of my kids; I will not

forget the message and I promise to follow the guidance to

protect health of my kids”. The mother also assured the

campaigners that she will disseminate the health message

to her community.

This happened in the context of Measles Outbreak response,

when health education campaign at Kass locality in South

Darfur was conducted from 24th to 26th March 2015 in col-

laboration with WHO and Health Promotion Department

of State Ministry of Health.

Health Education has an impact on families

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is implementing a health project funded by SDC which was designed to improve basic

primary health care and WASH services for 42,875 conflict affected populations and build the capacity of health team to

deliver quality services in Nertiti area of Central Darfur State. Hawa Arbab used to live in a village located around Kabka-

byah area before Darfur conflict broke in 2003; and that area has no education and health services like what they have in

the camp now. IRW monitoring team met Hawa Arbab on Sunday 29th of March 2015 while visiting the PHC clinic to

medicate her 9 months old child “Omran” who was seriously having fever for six days period. Hawa‟s son got treated and

she was also met with the midwife in the clinic who provided her with ANC services free of charge.

Hawa is very pleased with the PHC services provided to them by IRW and the donors” SDC” and she is sending the fol-

lowing messages to them.

“I want to send a lot of thanks to IRW and donors who provided us with integrated health, WASH and education facilities

and we wish they will continue providing us these services till peace prevails in our areas and we go back home to our

normal live. So thanks and thanks again and again for all who assisted and provided all these services to us”

6

HEALTH WITH A

DIFFERENCE:

POSITIVELY IMPACTING

OUR ENVIRONMENT

A team of World Vision Sudan

health staff under the auspices of

Club- Tameen Al mostagbal تأمين(

has gone an extra mile toالمستقبل(

invest time and resources to plant

trees at the Primary Health Care

centers where they work. The staff

has committed to go beyond the call

of duty and plant a total of 200 trees

within a period of two years. By this

quarter, the club had managed to

reach 50% of the target they set

when the club was launched in May

2014.

In Blue Nile state, World Vision

staff in partnership with the Ministry

of Agriculture and Pan Health Care

a national health NGO have planted

70 trees at six Primary Health Care

centers. In South Darfur state, the

club members have planted 27 trees

bringing the total in both states to 97

trees planted in 10 primary health

care centers in one year. The species

that have been planted include fruit

and shade trees such as mango, gua-

va, brazilia, lime, neem, willows

(dignabasha), fiscus (figis) and ma-

hogany.

“I believe planting trees is an act of

worship and charity,” says Nour

Eldin a medical assistant at Mana-

washi Primary Health Care clinic in

Mershing locality of South Darfur

state. Manawashi clinic is under

World Vision management funded

by USAID and World Vision US to

provide lifesaving essential health

care to communities.

“Ordinarily, this would be be-

yond my job description, howev-

er, working with World Vision,

has encouraged me to plant trees at my work station. As Dr. Ibra-

him Mohammed, World Vision

health Supervisor in Blue Nile

Program says the planting of

trees will contribute significantly

to securing the health of Suda-

nese children in the future. This

is in addition to appropriate

awareness raising, medical waste

management, solid waste man-

agement, use of fuel efficient

cooking techniques and use of

Stabilized Soil Bricks for clinic

construction.

World Vision Sudan remains

committed to step up the

„environmental marker‟ by inte-

grating environment into human-

itarian programming; working

with communities to improve

outcomes, create multiple bene-

fits but more so to save the fu-

ture for generations to come.

In 2015, World Vision health

staff pledge to plant 103 trees at

the various Primary Health Care

centres. We shall also encourage

communities that we work with

including children to plant trees

at the household level.

Sudan Health Sector

Somia I. Okued EHA Director –FMOH somiaokoued@gmail.com Dr. Jamshed Tanoli Health Sector Coordinator tanolij@who.int

Secretariat sudanhealth@sud.emro.who.int