Dozens of South Sudanese nationals suffering from kidney disease report high costs of dialysis services in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
The complaint surfaced after Sudan’s Health Ministry ordered all dialysis centers not to render free services to South Sudanese nationals at the government’s expense, saying they were not responsible for medical costs for foreigners.
Previously, President Omar al Bashir instructed his government to treat South Sudanese who flee to Sudan well, saying opportunities will be opened up for South Sudanese to benefit from the four freedoms agreement.
Several South Sudanese patients told Radio Tamazuj Friday that they have been denied dialysis services after a deadline given by the ministry elapsed early August.
Athol Daku, one of the patients affected by the decision, said he knows of 52 patients who have been denied treatment. He said that the ministry gave them a three-month deadline to report the matter to the South Sudanese embassy in Khartoum.
Daku said they informed the embassy and that Ambassador Mayan Dut promised to take the matter to the government in Juba to resolve the problem.
But so far, Daku said, there has been no tangible improvement. Patients are still paying for their dialysis at their own expense, which runs at 3,000 Sudanese pounds per week.
The complaining patients requested from the government in Juba through its embassy in Khartoum to carry out its duty towards its citizens who are living abroad.
Radio Tamazuj could not reach South Sudanese embassy in Khartoum to comment on the matter.
File photo: Khartoum teaching hospital
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