Sudanese press warned not to report on medical strike

Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) has warned the Sudanese press not report any news about striking of medics in the country.

In telephone messages, editors-in-chief in Khartoum were told that the strikes by medical workers in Wad Madani and Khartoum are ‘red line subjects’, journalists told Radio Dabanga.

On 9 September, the doctors of the Wad Madani Emergency Hospital and the El Gezira Centre for Injuries and Surgery, decided to down tools for an indefinite period after two of them were beaten-up that day.

About two weeks later, doctors and workers at the Omdurman Teaching Hospital, as well as Ibrahim Malik and Bahri Teaching Hospital in North Khartoum, embarked on a strike in protest against repeated attacks on doctors.

The strikers demand provision of security and protection for the doctors, and an improved work environment.

Second Vice-President

Just last week, Sudan’s Second Vice-President, Hassabo Mohamed Abdelrahman, echoed the doctors’ concerns and called for the provision of security at hospitals and the emergency units, as well as adherence to access-control regulations at hospitals. His appeal, while chairing a meeting of the Council of Ministers assigned to discuss the situation of hospitals, was reported by the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA).

Violent attacks

According to Sudanese doctors and health workers, more than 90 per cent of violent attacks on them are perpetrated by police and security agents.

In early September the head of the Medical Professions Union, Yasir Mohamed Ibrahim, pointed out in a symposium that most of the cases reported have not been investigated, nor have the perpetrators been brought to justice.

One of the doctors at the symposium commented that “there is a state of impunity. Many police and regular forces continuously assault doctors without being subjected to punishment.”