WHO and FMOH meet to set priorities for strengthening the emergency care system in Sudan

The Federal Ministry of Health in Sudan with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and in collaboration with emergency care partners and stakeholders, concluded a consensus meeting organized to address the gaps identified by the Emergency Care System Assessment (ECSA), conducted in Sudan in 2018.

The 2-day meeting which was attended by 51 participants including partners, policymakers, and emergency care providers from Federal and States levels, initiated the basis for developing a priorities action plan to strengthen the emergency care system in the country.

The consensus on the findings of the comprehensive system-level assessment will consider the legislative and governance frameworks of the decentralized health system in Sudan’s 18 states. It will also guide the development of a countrywide Emergency Care System (ECS) implementation plan that focuses on a wide range of medical, surgical and obstetric services including injury, complications of pregnancy, exacerbations of non-communicable diseases, and acute infections.

“The FMOH, WHO, and partners will continue work to identify potential resources and key stakeholders to step up the implementation of strengthening the emergency care system plan in Sudan,” said Dr. Naeema Al Gasseer, WHO Representative in Sudan.

“Every individual needs to be ready for emergencies. We would like to advocate for conducting a series of first aid courses at schools, factories, and communities since such skills save lives” she added.

WHO estimates road traffic death rate in Sudan to be among the highest in the Eastern Mediterranean Region standing at 24 deaths per 100 000 population. ECSA data also reflected the availability of fully certified specialist programs in emergency medicine for doctors but not for nurses or specialists in trauma care area.

Findings also pinpointed the lack of formal and government-ratified certification pathway for pre-hospital care providers in addition to the absence of a single national emergency care access number.

This meeting is part of WHO regional initiative that aims to strengthen the emergency care systems in the EMR Member States. It is hoped that the outcome of this meeting will pave the way for more structured actions towards strong emergency medical care system and contribute to reducing the annually incurred death and disability rates in Sudan.