Cholera is spreading rapidly in Darfur in the worst outbreak in years, say Doctors Without Borders
The group, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), said the outbreak was the worst the North African country has seen in years.
As of Monday, a total of 99,700 suspected cases and over 2,470 related deaths have been reported in Sudan since the cholera outbreak began in July 2024, according to MSF.
While some vaccination campaigns that kicked off at the time managed to contain the disease, more people have been infected over the past few months due to poor hygiene measures and new waves of people being displaced amid intensified fighting in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
The civil war erupted in April 2023 in Khartoum before spreading across the country. The fighting between the Sudanese military, its allies, and its rival paramilitary the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed over 40,000 people, displaced as many as 12 million, caused disease outbreaks, and pushed many to the brink of famine.
The World Health Organization describes cholera as a 'disease of poverty' because it spreads where there is poor sanitation and a lack of clean water. The diarrheal disease is caused when people eat food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is easily treatable with rehydration solutions and antibiotics, but in severe cases the disease can kill within hours if left untreated.
'The situation is most extreme in Tawila, North Darfur state, where 380,000 people have fled to escape ongoing fighting around the city of El Fasher, according to the United Nations,' MSF said Thursday.
The medical group added that Tawila Hospital was overwhelmed by some 400 cholera patients earlier this month, when it only had the capacity for 130 people. Many had to be treated on the floor.
North Darfur's capital city of el-Fasher and its surrounding areas have seen repeated waves of violence recently. On Monday, the RSF attacked the famine-stricken displacement camp of Abu Shouk outside the city, killing 40 people and injuring at least 19 people.
On Monday, the RSF denied targeting civilians in el-Fasher, but didn't mention attacks in Abu Shouk camp in a statement on its Telegram channel. The paramilitary accused Islamic Movement militias and 'mercenaries of the armed movements' of endangering the lives of civilians and using them as 'human shields in a desperate attempt to hinder' forces' advancements.
'The Rapid Support Forces reaffirms its commitment to continuing to open safe corridors for the departure of civilians from El Fasher to other, safer areas,' the group added.
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Senegal's ‘schools for husbands' aim to shift gender roles and keep mothers from dying
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But when I explained how much safer it would be for both his wife and the baby, he agreed.' No more barking orders The program launched in Senegal in 2011 but in recent years has caught the attention of the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection, which sees it an effective strategy to combat maternal and infant mortality. 'Without men's involvement, attitudes around maternal health won't change," said 54-year-old Aida Diouf, a female health worker who collaborates with the program. Many husbands prefer their wives not be treated by male health workers, she said. The classes for husbands follow similar efforts in other African countries, particularly Niger, Togo, and Burkina Faso, where the United Nations Population Fund says it improved women's access to reproductive health services by increasing male involvement, growing the use of contraceptives by both men and women and expanding access to prenatal care and skilled birth attendants. 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Some men mistakenly believe such talk will promote LGBTQ+ issues, which remain largely taboo in much of West Africa. "But when we focus on women's right to be healthy, it puts a human face on the concept and its becomes universal,' Malick said. ___ For more on Africa and development: ___ The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Senegal's ‘schools for husbands' aim to shift gender roles and keep mothers from dying
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — On a recent evening in Senegal 's capital of Dakar, an imam named Ibrahima Diane explained to a group of men why they should be more involved in household chores. 'The Prophet himself says a man who does not help support his wife and children is not a good Muslim,' the 53-year-old said, as he described bathing his baby and helping his wife with other duties. Some of the 14 men chuckled, not quite sold. Others applauded. Diane was taking part in a 'school for husbands,' a United Nations-backed initiative where respected male community members learn about 'positive masculinity' in health and social issues and promote them in their communities. In Senegal, as in many other West African countries with large rural or conservative populations, men often have the final say in major household decisions, including ones related to health. Women may need their permission for life-changing decisions on accessing family planning or other reproductive health services, along with hospital deliveries or prenatal care. Following his sessions at the school for husbands, Diane regularly holds sermons during Friday prayers where he discusses issues around gender and reproductive health, from gender-based violence to fighting stigma around HIV. 'Many women appreciate my sermons,' he said. 'They say their husbands' behavior changed since they attended them.' He said some men have told him the sermons inspired them to become more caring husbands and fathers. Habib Diallo, a 60-year-old former army commando, said attending the sermons and discussions with the imam taught him about the risks of home births. 'When my son's wife was pregnant, I encouraged him to take her to the hospital for the delivery,' Diallo said. 'At first, he was hesitant. He worried about the cost and didn't trust the hospital. But when I explained how much safer it would be for both his wife and the baby, he agreed.' No more barking orders The program launched in Senegal in 2011 but in recent years has caught the attention of the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection, which sees it an effective strategy to combat maternal and infant mortality. 'Without men's involvement, attitudes around maternal health won't change,' said 54-year-old Aida Diouf, a female health worker who collaborates with the program. Many husbands prefer their wives not be treated by male health workers, she said. The classes for husbands follow similar efforts in other African countries, particularly Niger, Togo, and Burkina Faso, where the United Nations Population Fund says it improved women's access to reproductive health services by increasing male involvement, growing the use of contraceptives by both men and women and expanding access to prenatal care and skilled birth attendants. 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Still too many dying in childbirth While maternal and infant deaths in Senegal have declined over the past decade, experts say it still has a long way to go. It recorded 237 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2023, while 21 newborns out of every 1,000 died within their first month. The U.N. globally wants to reduce maternal deaths to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births and newborn deaths to under 12 per 1,000 by 2030. One key problem was that many women have been giving birth at home, said El Hadj Malick, one of the Senegal program's coordinators. 'By educating men about the importance of supporting their wives during pregnancy, taking them to the hospital and helping with domestic work at home, you're protecting people's health,' Malick said. He said he still experiences difficulty changing mindsets on some issues. 'When we just talk to them about gender, there is sometimes tension because it's seen as something abstract or even foreign,' Malick said. Some men mistakenly believe such talk will promote LGBTQ+ issues, which remain largely taboo in much of West Africa. 'But when we focus on women's right to be healthy, it puts a human face on the concept and its becomes universal,' Malick said. ___ For more on Africa and development: ___ The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
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