Is Sudan Ready for COVID-19?

On 31 December 2019, an unknown flu-like virus, causing fever, pneumonia (Infection in one or both lungs), chest pain and shortness of breath was first reported in Wuhan, China.

As more cases began to appear, examinations, laboratory test, and data analysis were made for the cases, and the result was new strain of coronavirus (CoV) was discovered.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family that causes illness ranging from the common cold to very severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MARS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

On 30 January 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the newly discovered coronavirus strain a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). On 11 February 2020, it was officially named COVID-19. A more accurate and scientific name for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2.

Common symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. 

COVID-19 has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), after affecting a total of 190 countries and territories, with 334,981 cases, leaving more than 14,652 people dead. Numbers continue to increase day by day.

To date, there have been two reported cases of COVID-19 in Sudan. One of which succumbed to the disease on 12 March 2020. The second infected individual is reported to be in good clinical condition and is currently in an isolation facility. There are at least 17 suspected cases. 

Since the first case was announced on 13 March 2020, Sudan applied strict measure to control the spread of virus, including closing schools, universities, the airport and border crossings, banning public gatherings or events, and declaring a nationwide health emergency. The country has now reopened the airport to enable nationals to return from overseas.

Neighbouring countries such as Egypt (294), Chad (1), Ethiopia (9), Eritrea (1) and Central African Republic (3) have also reported cases. There are no reports of the COVID-19 reaching South Sudan and Libya yet. Africa’s cases of COVID-19 rose above 1,000 on 21 March 2020 with Egypt having the highest number of COVID-19 cases with a total of 256 cases – the numbers in Egypt are much higher than Chad and Ethiopia altogether. However, a recent study by Canadian specialists estimated that there are over 19,000 cases in Egypt, after combining travel data, flight data and infection rates. 

Many countries in Africa, including Sudan, are already either recovering from or fighting several life-threatening viruses and diseases from Malaria to Ebola. In Sudan, Ebola cases have been recorded from 1976 to 2014. Moreover, the country already suffers from a number of viruses and diseases. Most recently, the dengue fever was recorded in Kassala on 8 August 2019, along with Rift Valley Fever that was discovered around the same period in El Qaneb, Red Sea. There was also the Cholera outbreak in the Blue Nile State in September 2019.

COVID-19 in Sudan vs Ministry of Health

Sudan’s Minister of Health, Dr Akram Ali Altoom, is putting huge effort to prevent the spread of the virus in Sudan. In addition to spreading awareness, the Ministry of Health conducts examinations on incoming passengers. Border crossings, whether onshore or offshore, are also subject to examinations.

The Ministry of Health has launched social media campaigns, using videos that animate the steps of preventing the spreading of the disease.

COVID-19 is rapidly spreading across the world. There are more suspected cases in Sudan. The Ministry of Health prepared a few hospitals to become a quarantine for any suspicious or confirmed cases. People coming from countries with local transmission must stay in home isolation for 14 days. Two isolation centres have been created to treat COVID-19 patients in Sudan. The isolation centre in the Khartoum Teaching Hospital has 37 beds and up to eight ICU beds. The isolation centre located at a trauma centre in south Khartoum has a capacity for 80 beds. WHO has requested 5,000 testing kits for COVID-19. 

According to OCHA, Jabra Hospital, which has 88 beds, is receiving all COVID-19 cases including suspected, confirmed and severe cases that require ICU admission. The hospital also includes an isolation room.

There’s also a dedicated quarantine building to monitor contacts of confirmed cases and for monitoring recovered COVID-19 patients before they are discharged. 

الحجر الصحي بمستشفى يونفيرسال
الخرطوم بحري pic.twitter.com/kUBZLvA7rz

— طقس السودان (@SudanWeather) March 19, 2020

A higher committee for medical emergencies has been formed to confront COVID-19 in Sudan. The committee is responsible for keeping track of any COVID-19 suspected cases and provide preventive measures.

According to OCHA, humanitarian partners such as UNICEF have provided desktop computers and other IT equipment to support the COVID-19 call centre. In addition, UNICEF provided 5,000 bars of soap to support hygiene in isolation centres. A UNICEF logistician has been deployed to the Ministry of Health to support logistics and supply chain management for COVID-19-related supplies.

Regarding the Sudanese students who have been evacuated from Wuhan, China by the UAE as part of their initiative to remove 215 Arab students from Sudan, Egypt, Iraq and Yemen from Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has not been reported if any of the students have tested positive to COVID-19. They are currently in quarantine in the newly-established Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi for 25 days.

To answer all questions related to COVID-19, a government-sponsored call centre has been established for all residents of Sudan, operating 24/7. Call centre: 221

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Ahmed Yasir is a dentist-in-the-make that found his second passion in writing and being a blogger. In addition to writing, he is interested in science and technology – so he’s not far from his field.

Related Links:

Temporary Flight Interruptions To/From Sudan After First COVID-19 Case

Sudan Declares Health Emergency Over COVID-19