Sudan declares health emergency to combat coronavirus

Sudan’s Security and Defence Council chaired by the President of the Sovereign Council, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, declared a state of health emergency in Sudan on Monday to counter the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19).

The director of the Health Emergency and Epidemiology Department of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Babikir El Magboul, said that on Monday seven suspected cases were examined and the results were negative.

He affirmed the continuous monitoring of all suspected cases, including the patient at the Royal Care International Hospital, until their safety can be confirmed.

Doctor El Magboul complained that citizens did not follow the health authority decisions to enter quarantine, stressing the need to raise awareness. He pointed out that entering quarantine is necessary for the higher interest of all citizens in the country.

Following Monday’s declaration, spokesman for the Sovereign Council, Mohamed El Faki, announced in a press statement that the High Committee for Health Emergencies was formed to adopt all the measures that prevent the disease from entering the country and to mobilise all health, security and logistical capabilities that assist to perform its duties.

He said that the committee has issued a decision to close all airports, ports, and land crossings, with the exception of trips that carry aid and technical and humanitarian support, and scheduled air cargo flights. He stressed that the committee has adopted all necessary measures to receive citizens stranded at land crossings, and to prepare places for them to spend the quarantine period.

El Faki stated that the High Committee for Health Emergencies affirmed that these measures are precautionary, and aimed to prevent infection and spread of the disease. He indicated that the committee calls on all citizens to cooperate with health and security teams, and not to hinder their effort to contain any cases, which is meant to block the disease it in order to preserve the good health situation in the country.

He stressed the importance of cooperation with the health cadres and to ease arrival of the security men to suspected cases. He pointed out that the state selected areas for quarantining on the basis of accurate estimates and after consulting medical and health staff.

The spokesman asserted that the committee will be in a permanent session and will receive three reports in every day on the health situation in the country.

Precautions

In its regular meeting today, Sudan’s Council of Ministers chaired by the Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, heard a report on precautionary and preventive measures for warding off the coronavirus epidemic.

Federal Health Minister Akram El Tom said in a press statement after the meeting that Sudan has taken measures similar to measures being taken by other countries. He stressed that the government will combat the epidemic with all means.

A number of committees have been formed to combat this epidemic. About 200 jobs have been accredited for immediate contracts at the health sector for supporting health centres country-wide.

The minister commended the health sector’s and private sector's concerted efforts, supported by numerous state organs, to ward off the epidemic.

Sudanese abroad

The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that it is closely following the situation of Sudanese nationals trapped abroad due to the precautionary measures as the closing of borders taken by other countries because of the coronavirus.

As reported by Radio Dabanga yesterday, about 3,000 Sudanese nationals are being detained at the Ashkeet and Argeen border crossings to Egypt near the High Dam port, Northern state. The Egyptian authorities claim their visas are false.

A source within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Khartoum and Cairo are in continuous contact about the case at the highest level.

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