Sudan to create police force to protect health workers, facilities

Sudan’s authorities have disclosed plan to create a police force to protect health facilities.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Saturday May 23, 2020, by the Prime Minister, Abdalla Hamdok.

According to the prime minister, the move came after doctors across the country threatened on Thursday to go on strike to pressure authorities to provide protection for health workers and facilities.

Hamdok said the protection was essential following the incessant attacks against health workers and hospitals.

“We met with representatives of doctors on Friday to find decisive and strict solutions to the phenomenon of repeated attacks on health workers.

“The government will introduce a draft bill to provide protection to health workers,” he said.

At least two dozen attacks on health care workers and facilities have taken place in the past two months across the country, according to a tally by the Sudan Doctors’ committee.

“On Thursday alone, there were at least three attacks on health workers and facilities in Khartoum that led to a temporary suspension of services at a hospital there,” the committee said.

Sudan has reported at least 63 deaths from COVID-19 among around 3,380 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which causes the disease.