Defending the right to health during Sudan's civil war

Elsevier, The Lancet Global Health, Volume 11, September 2023
Authors: 
Mohammed F.E.A., Viva M.I.F., Awadalla W.A.G., Elmahi O.K.O., Wainstock D., Patil P.

The Sudanese health system was strained before the outbreak of armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (controlled by the Sudanese Government) and the Rapid Support Forces. Sudan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world (295 deaths per 100 000 livebirths) and a severe shortage of health-care workers with only four doctors for every 10 000 people.Health-care workers faced substantial challenges and violations of their rights before the conflict, such as low pay and violent attacks, including the killing of health-care workers and humanitarian aid workers by the militia. Although faced with major challenges health-care workers have been at the forefront of the revolution, pushing for a fairer and more democratic Sudan.