Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has regretfully announced the suspension of life-saving surgical support at Bashair Teaching Hospital in south Khartoum, Sudan. This includes trauma surgery and caesarean sections, a response to the military authorities’ month-long blockade on transporting surgical materials from Wad Madani to south Khartoum.
 
“It is devastating to have to stop supporting life-saving surgical care support at Bashair Hospital,” says Dr Shazeer Majeed, MSF surgical adviser. “Since mid-May, the hospital’s emergency room has received nearly 5,000 patients and MSF’s surgical team has performed more than 3,000 surgical procedures.”
 
MSF commenced its collaboration with Ministry of Health staff and volunteers at Bashair Teaching Hospital in mid-May. However, since September 8, military authorities have persistently denied permission for MSF to transport essential surgical supplies from their warehouses in Wad Madani to hospitals in south Khartoum, leading to a depletion of surgical materials at Bashair Hospital.
 
“After weeks of discussions, on 1 October, we were informed that the military authorities in Wad Madani will no longer allow the transport of any surgical supplies, including for c-sections, to hospitals in south Khartoum,” says Michiel Hofman, operations coordinator for Sudan.

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While MSF will maintain its support for maternal, emergency, and outpatient care at Bashair hospital, this suspension highlights the urgency of resolving the supply blockade to ensure the continuation of life-saving medical care in the region. MSF continues discussions with relevant authorities to eliminate these supply blockages and stands ready to resume surgical activities upon the restoration of supply lines.