A ward that was looted at El Geneina Teaching Hospital. (MSF photo)

Dialysis center in El Geneina Hospital to reopen after months of fighting

The Health Coordinator of External Relations in El Geneina, West Darfur State, Doctor Mustafa Ibrahim Idris, has revealed that preparations to reopen the dialysis center are underway after the completion of maintenance of the relevant equipment and testing by medical engineers.

The Health Coordinator of External Relations in El Geneina, West Darfur State, Doctor Mustafa Ibrahim Idris, has revealed that preparations to reopen the dialysis center are underway after the completion of maintenance of the relevant equipment and testing by medical engineers.

The El Geneina Dialysis Center stopped working after the outbreak of war on 15 April and its closure led to the death of a number of people suffering from kidney disease.

A community medical committee headed by Doctor Mohammed Al-Muwaffaq Abu Bakr Suleiman, a specialist in kidney and urinary tract surgery, was formed to revive the operation of the center and was able to return El Geneina Hospital and some other health centers through the efforts of volunteers.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Dr. Ibrahim confirmed that all arrangements have been completed to reopen the dialysis center on Tuesday with the support of the people of the region.

“This is good news for the citizens of the state. The dialysis center is very important for the people of the state and the country of Chad,” he explained. “This is because after the Zalingani and Nyala centers went out of service, this became the only refuge and the great hope for saving lives despite the scarcity of available materials.”

The medical officer stated that eleven emergency centers have been established in remote areas in the last three months, including five east of El Geneina in Erdemta and Um Doyen, and six others in the city’s suburbs to ensure access to health services for all citizens in the state.

Ibrahim appealed to the international community, organizations active in the health field and the United Nations to support the health sector, especially El Geneina Hospital, and to consider the issue of employee salaries to ensure continuity of work and ease citizen’s access to medical services.