Sudan: Health Quarantine Facilities - Sudan's 'First Line of Defense' Against Cross-Border Epidemics
[SNA] KHARTOUM -- Khartoum hosted the annual meeting of health quarantine directors under the theme "Effective Partnership, Joint Planning toward Better-Prepared Points of Entry for Enhanced Health Security." The meeting brought together officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Sovereignty Council, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to review 2026 performance and formulate the 2027…
Khartoum recently convened the annual meeting of health quarantine directors, focusing on effective partnerships and joint planning to enhance health security at border points. Officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, the Sovereignty Council, and the World Health Organization (WHO) gathered to discuss the 2026 performance and outline plans for 2027.
Lieutenant General Yasser Mohamed Osman, the Director General of Border Crossings and Entry Points at the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), highlighted ongoing efforts to upgrade border crossings, citing the Argeen crossing development and plans to enhance other crossings. He emphasized the importance of effective partnerships due to limited resources and exceptional circumstances.
Dr. Ali Babiker Sidahmed, the Federal Health Undersecretary, described health quarantine facilities as the first line of defense against cross-border epidemics, praising their performance during the war at Port Sudan, Wadi Halfa, and Argeen. The need for preparedness remains high, with health threats persisting in neighboring countries and the return of many Sudanese citizens.
Dr. Al-Fadil Mohamed Mahmoud, the Acting Director General of Health Emergencies and Epidemic Control, noted that this was the first annual gathering of health quarantine directors in Khartoum since the return of government institutions. He stressed the importance of improving staff training, providing necessary resources, and strengthening partnerships.
Dr. Al-Fatih Rabie, the Director of the Quarantine Department, affirmed that health quarantine is the country's first line of defense against cross-border health threats, focusing on surveillance, early detection, and rapid response. He outlined plans to upgrade points of entry, meet operational needs, and conduct continuous training, particularly in disease surveillance and response mechanisms.
Dr. Kado Simon, the WHO representative, warned that epidemics have no borders and called for stronger coordination and joint efforts to address existing gaps. The meeting will also feature discussions on challenges facing health quarantine facilities and priorities for 2027.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
