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BACKGROUND:
On 9 November 2022, clashes erupted between two communities in Central Darfur's Bendasi locality, killing 48 people and displacing around 15,000, mostly women and children. The people fleeing the conflict arrived without any belongings and were lacking access to basic services, including medical aid.
Responding to the most urgent needs, Save the Children quickly mobilised a health team to support the IDPs through life-saving interventions for three months.
Prior to the intervention, people had to travel 35 km to the nearest health facility. A long drive, if one could afford it, through difficult and insecure terrain. This situation often led to patients delaying the treatment until a simple medical condition became an emergency case.
When Save the Children set up the free mobile medical services near the area where the displaced had settled, health care became accessible for the affected population. Now patients can receive health services where they live. For cases that the doctors identify as more severe, Save the Children organises transport and referrals to the nearest specialised clinic, free of charge.
DAILY ROUTINES
The journey to the remote location takes 11 hours from the state's capital Zalingei due to the poor und bumpy roads. The huge need for healthcare support in the region is what drives the healthcare worker's dedication to continue working under the circumstances and to give their best.
The team is comprised of the medical assistant, the nutritionists, the vaccinator, and the pharmacist.
On arrival, the mobile health team members will set up their workstations under the shade of trees as the sun can be unbearable hot during the day in the Central Darfur region, reaching temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius.
While patients are waiting for their turn, other team members share health promotion leaflets and awareness messages on medical topics as well as good nutrition and hygiene practices with the community members. Further, each patient will be registered in the system for better follow up of the cases.
STAFF QUOTES:
Mudather Health and Nutrition Officer at the Save the Children International, Zalingei office. Despite the insecurity in the region, Mudather is committed to serve the communities.
"People and children of here have been through a lot of suffering due to the conflicts. We have to do our best to serve them."
Tayseer is a medical assistant working in the mobile health clinic. She is very dedicated and spends months away from her family to serve people in need.
"This is the third month I am working here in the mobile clinic. We provide life-changing services for the people. One of the key issues in this area is the quality of the available water. It causes many illnesses. We provide patients with the necessary medication, but in some cases, we refer them and organise their transport to reach the nearest hospital. It makes a big difference for the community, but In the longer term, this area also needs a permanent health facility and improved water sources."
Halima is the nutrition officerin the team. She is dedicated to helping children, especially those caught up in very harsh circumstances. "Our work here is valuable and important for people who are suffering in multiple ways. There are no health facilities in the area and the next hospital is very hard to reach. Also, there is a lack of clean water sources. It is even difficult for us to reach this remote area, but it is our duty to serve our people."
Mohammed responsible for administering the children's vaccines. He has been working in similar contexts since 1982 under very challenging circumstances, throughout major conflicts, and volatile security situations in Darfur.
"My work as in administering vaccinations for children gives me the opportunity to serve and save the children of our country. I am always ready no matter the hardships that we must overcome."
The mobile clinic teams are funded by the European Union with Save the Children implementing the activities in collaboration with the Norwegian Refugee Council and the State Ministry of Health.