Khartoum provides free dengue treatment amid surge in cases

September 21, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Khartoum state’s government on Sunday announced it has designated centres for the free treatment of dengue fever and malaria, as cases of the mosquito-borne illness surge.

The move comes as Khartoum residents report a shortage of treatments and overcrowding in medical facilities. Activists have also stepped in to provide intravenous solutions for those most in need.

In a statement, the government said the designated hospitals include Omdurman, Al-Tamayuz, Haj Al-Safi, Al-Turki, and Bashair. These hospitals, along with some health centers in residential areas, have been supplied with treatments for both illnesses to be distributed for free, the statement added.

Khartoum Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza visited Al-Naw Hospital in the Karari locality and Birr Al-Walidayn Hospital in Omdurman to assess the availability of treatments for dengue, malaria, and typhoid.

Following the visits, Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim and Governor Hamza held a meeting with local executive and health officials. According to the state media office, the meeting addressed the current health situation, the results of sanitation campaigns, and efforts to drain stagnant water from vacant homes and raise public awareness to limit the spread of disease vectors.

The health minister said that high mosquito density and widespread rubble in Khartoum pose significant challenges, though he acknowledged that “a great effort has been made” compared to the state’s previous condition.

“The situation now requires work on all fronts, especially pesticide spraying, providing environmental sanitation aids, and combating disease vectors,” he added.

The Health Ministry has initiated a campaign to eliminate dengue vectors across Khartoum’s neighbourhoods, but the disease continues to spread widely.