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Sudan seeks UAE’s help in health sector

DUBAI — Sudan is seeking cooperation of the UAE in the health sector with particular emphasis on finance, training and health education, Dr Tabita Shokai, Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health, has said.

Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Arab Health Conference here on Tuesday, after a meeting with Dr Ali Shukr, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Health, the Sudanese minister said her visit was a precursor to the signing of an MoU with the UAE in April this year. “We wish to enhance cooperation in medical personnel training,” she added.

Dr Shokai said that Sudan planned to build 100 primary healthcare centres, specialised hospitals, and a cancer research and treatment centre in Al Lobeid and the capital Khartoum. “As per the MoU, the UAE will also give us assistance in tackling health problems and diseases such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis. Sudan is a war-ravaged country where primary healthcare calls for urgent help. Sudan’s child mortality rate remains the highest in the world,” she added.

“We also want Sudanese health personnel to receive training in the UAE for which I am visiting the trauma centre of Rashid Hospital,” she said.

“We need $2 million for our programme and we are seeking help of the UAE and the international community,” she added.

Meanwhile, Dr Ali Shukr said the UAE’s help to Sudan would be confirmed after the MoU is signed.

“We are waiting for an official letter from the Sudan government, after which we’ll decide which areas to focus on. We are working out strategies to work as a team,” he added.

Earlier, the undersecretary held meetings with German officials on exchange of medical services and research, an MoU for which was to be signed yesterday.