UNOPS and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation sign €4.2 million to Promote Quality Health Care Service Provision in Sudan

The government of Italy and UNOPS today signed a € 4.2 million project to support the people of Sudan in achieving sustainable development goals 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11. The project is aimed at improving health conditions in Sudan, Kassala State. 

The situation in Sudan has significantly worsened with the war which began on 15 April 2023, the social infrastructures have been damaged due to conflict and looting. The conflict has brought about immense misery on a scale never witnessed before. Hospital rooms are full of injured children, and human dignity has been completely disregarded. With deficient healthcare systems, overstretched and often unprepared health workers, there is indeed limited capacity to effectively manage and provide the required healthcare services for the population. 

Over 2.8 million individuals will benefit from the project's intervention, which will greatly improve access to high-quality healthcare and address the health issues the country is currently facing. Cross-cutting issues like equity and gender will be at the center of the project. 

The Italian Ambassador to Sudan, H.E. Michele Tommasi, stated that Italy is one of the leading donors in terms of financial assistance provided to support Sudan in various sectors. These sectors include health, social inclusion, disability, gender equality, economic progress, agriculture, and preservation of cultural and archaeological heritage. Among the most important initiatives, Italy is funding the creation of the Kassala Health Citadel, a large health district that will have 120 beds, a fully-equipped Diagnostic Centre, a Blood Bank, a pediatric hospital, a maternity hospital with operating rooms, and intensive care units, a new operating block, as well as laboratories for controlling and responding to recurrent epidemic crises that affect the area. This partnership between the AICS Khartoum Office and UNOPS represents a successful example of best practice, commitment, and deep collaboration, capable of achieving significant and concrete results for the benefit of the Sudanese people”.

Mr. Michele Morana, the Director of AICS Khartoum, stated that AICS has been unwavering in its efforts to support Sudan. We have intensified our support and localized it in the Eastern States of the Country, where the Italian Cooperation has a long-lasting presence and strong relationships with the Sudanese authorities, based on mutual trust and collaboration. The joint intervention with UNOPS has been focused on the Kassala Health Citadel, which is a part of the Italian Cooperation's strategy to support and strengthen the Sudanese Health System. The Kassala Health Citadel is a unique health district in the Sudanese panorama that offers tertiary-level hospital services, serving not only the Kassala population but the population of neighbouring States.

Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, Multi-Country Office (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti) Director and Representative to the AU on her part said “The Italian government has a deep commitment to the people of East Africa. This is the fourth project we are signing with the Government of Italy in 2023, and I would like to express my gratitude to the Italian government for their unwavering support of the initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of life for those we assist.”

Sudan is facing multiple overlapping humanitarian crises, putting at risk the lives and livelihoods of millions of people and driving continued high and urgent needs for humanitarian support. The ongoing conflict, violence, and climatic shocks continue to exacerbate the humanitarian needs and have greatly slowed down the gains toward SDGs in the country.