Medicine crisis, rogue trade in West Darfur

Residents of the Sirba camps for the displaced in West Darfur have demanded that the federal and the state Ministries of Health to promptly intervene in order to prevent the spread of diseases. The Spokesman for Sirba camps in West Darfur, Mohamed Yahya Abakar, explained to Radio Dabanga that the residents of the camps for the displaced north of El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, are suffering severe hardship due to a lack of medicines. According to Abakar, the Merlin organisation that is currently providing medications in the main camps of Kondobe and Saraf Jidad, is not able to meet the needs of all the patients. “The camps lack pharmacies too, which increases the illegal trade in medicines.  Itinerant traders sell medicines without knowing what they sell and the buyers do not have a clue about what they buy.” Abakar also called on the Ministry of Health of West Darfur State to control the available medicines so that citizens do not fall victim to the traders, as well as to provide medicines to the camps. File photo Related: Most water pumps out of order in West Darfur camps (8 November 2013)Teacher shortage in West Darfur camps (4 November 2013)Herders torch crops, militia assaults farmers in West Darfur (23 October 2013)