Title: The Effect of the War in Sudan on the Health System in Wad Medani, Gezira State
Authors: Montasir Ghaneim Alzain Salih
Volume: 10
Issue: 8
Pages: 146-151
Publication Date: 2026/08/28
Abstract:
The armed conflict that began in Sudan on 15 April 2023 has produced a profound humanitarian and health-system crisis. Wad Medani (Wad Madani), the capital of Gezira State, became an important refuge and service centre during the early stages of the conflict, but the expansion of fighting into Gezira in December 2023 severely disrupted healthcare delivery. This narrative review examines the effects of the war on the health system in Wad Medani, focusing on health infrastructure, health workers, medicines and medical supplies, service delivery, infectious diseases, maternal and child health, chronic disease and specialized care, displacement, mental health, and health-system resilience. Evidence from peer-reviewed literature and humanitarian reports indicates that conflict-related insecurity, attacks and occupation of health facilities, displacement of health professionals, shortages of medicines and supplies, interrupted referral pathways, and damage to essential infrastructure have substantially reduced access to care. In Madani locality, UNICEF reported supporting 35 of 75 health facilities in February 2024, illustrating both the scale of disruption and the importance of humanitarian support. Specialized services, including oncology and dialysis, have been particularly vulnerable to interruption. The review argues that recovery requires more than reopening facilities: it requires protection of health workers and patients, restoration of supply chains and referral networks, sustained financing, support for primary healthcare, disease surveillance, mental-health services, and long-term reconstruction based on resilience and local leadership.