Operational Status and Resource Challenges of Medical Facilities in Omdurman, Sudan

Apr 27, 2026, 07:47
AfricaHealth

Introduction

This report examines the current conditions of healthcare facilities in Omdurman, focusing on Al Nao hospital and the professional experiences of Dr. Jamal Eltaeb during the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

Main Body

Sudan's healthcare system has suffered severe damage, with about 40% of hospitals currently closed because of structural destruction or seizure by armed groups. Al Nao hospital, located on the outskirts of Khartoum, changed from a quiet facility to a primary emergency center after fighting began in April 2023. Dr. Jamal Eltaeb took over the leadership of the hospital in July 2023 after most of the medical staff had left. To keep the hospital running, the staff relied on fuel provided by the military for electricity and an informal system for getting supplies. Medical materials were requested via social media, which allowed volunteers to collect medicines from closed pharmacies. Furthermore, the facility used basic materials, such as wood for bone supports and fabric for splints, while receiving medical advice from a global network of Sudanese doctors. Between August 2023 and late 2024, the hospital was hit by four separate attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These events forced the staff to use emergency sorting methods under extreme shortages. Dr. Eltaeb emphasized that he had to perform amputations on children using only local anesthesia because the patients were bleeding heavily and could not be moved to sterile operating rooms. Meanwhile, other facilities like Al Shaabi hospital report even worse damage, and Director Dr. Osman Ismail Osman criticized government subsidies for being too low to cover the loss of equipment.

Conclusion

Al Nao hospital is one of the few remaining functional health centers in the region. However, its long-term survival depends on securing steady monthly funding and international support for reconstruction.

Vocabulary Learning

anesthesia (n.)
medicine that prevents pain during surgery / 係麻醉藥
Example:The doctor used local anesthesia for the operation.
informal (adj.)
not official or formal / 係非正式的
Example:They used an informal system to get supplies.
seizure (n.)
the act of taking control of something by force / 係強行接管的行為
Example:The armed groups carried out a seizure of the hospital.
severe (adj.)
extremely serious or intense / 係非常嚴重的
Example:The flood caused severe damage to the town.
subsidies (n.)
government payments to help cover costs / 係政府補貼
Example:The hospital complained about low subsidies from the government.

Sentence Learning

Al Nao hospital, located on the outskirts of Khartoum, changed from a quiet facility to a primary emergency center after fighting began in April 2023.
Relative Clause: This non-defining relative clause 'located on the outskirts of Khartoum' adds extra information about Al Nao hospital, specifying its location.關係子句: 此非限定性關係子句 'located on the outskirts of Khartoum' 為 Al Nao hospital 提供額外資訊，說明其所在位置。
Medical materials were requested via social media, which allowed volunteers to collect medicines from closed pharmacies.
Passive Voice: The sentence uses passive voice 'were requested', indicating that the action was done to the medical materials rather than by a specific subject.被動語態: 句子使用被動語態 'were requested'，表示動作是對醫療材料發動，而非由特定主體執行。
Dr. Eltaeb emphasized that he had to perform amputations on children using only local anesthesia because the patients were bleeding heavily and could not be moved to sterile operating rooms.
Conjunction (Because): The word 'because' introduces a reason clause, explaining why the patients could not be moved.因為連接詞: 'because' 引入原因子句，說明病人無法移動的原因。
Furthermore, the facility used basic materials, such as wood for bone supports and fabric for splints, while receiving medical advice from a global network of Sudanese doctors.
Conjunction (While): The word 'while' connects two actions happening at the same time, showing that receiving advice occurred concurrently with using basic materials.while連接詞: 'while' 連接兩個同時發生的動作，表示在使用基本材料的同時也在接受醫療建議。
To keep the hospital running, the staff relied on fuel provided by the military for electricity and an informal system for getting supplies.
Infinitive of Purpose: The infinitive phrase 'to keep the hospital running' explains the purpose of the staff's actions.不定詞目的: 不定詞片語 'to keep the hospital running' 說明員工行動的目的。