Khartoum: Federal Minister of Health Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim has chaired a crucial meeting of the High-Level Joint Health Mechanism to address the challenges of providing health services in hard-to-reach areas of Darfur, Blue Nile, and Kordofan regions. The meeting was attended by key figures including Undersecretary of the Ministry Dr. Ali Babiker Sid Ahmed and Darfur Region Minister of Health Dr. Babiker Hamadein.
According to Sudan News Agency, the meeting also included directors from United Nations agencies and various international and regional organizations involved in the health sector across the targeted regions, alongside directors-general of health ministries in the five Darfur states and officials from the Regional Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The discussions centered around the current health situation in these remote areas, identifying challenges in service delivery, and exploring strategies to enhance healthcare interventions. The participants emphasized expanding primary healthcare and emergency services, ensuring the supply of necessary materials, and the deployment of medical personnel.
Minister Dr. Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim highlighted the pressing need to bolster health interventions, especially in regions impacted by the activities of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. He called for improved coordination among relevant authorities to ensure fair service delivery and to address existing service gaps.
The Minister also pointed out significant challenges in service provision and funding, revealing that only 38% of the humanitarian plan's required funding had been secured. He appealed to donors and partners to help reduce the funding gap, aiming for at least 70% coverage by year-end to maintain essential services for citizens. He expressed optimism for peace and security across Sudan.
Undersecretary Dr. Ali Babiker Sid Ahmed outlined the meeting's goal of enhancing joint coordination and creating unified mechanisms to tackle challenges, ensuring equitable resource distribution. He emphasized the need to uphold the coordination mechanism for effective service delivery.
Darfur Region Minister of Health Dr. Babiker Hamadein acknowledged the contributions of the World Health Organization and other organizations in maintaining health services in the region. He stressed the necessity to expand and improve services in underserved localities, focusing on primary healthcare through partnerships with local health centers.