Situation of Health services and
Medical Education in Sudan with
especial emphasis on Gezira - 2005
Prof. Osman Khalafalla Saeed
MBBS, FRCP, SMSB
The Republic of Sudan
GEOGRAPHY
• Sudan is the largest country in Africa
(1000000 mile2)
• Lies between lat 4 to 22 N, long 22 to 38
East.
• Borders with 9 countries.
• The Blue Nile & White Nile join at
Khartoum and the main Nile runs through
the country up to Egypt.
Sudan is divided into four climatic regions:
a. The Red Sea coastal strip.
b. Northern Sudan (north of latitude 19° N).
c. Central Sudan (between latitudes 19° N
and 13° N).
d. Southern Sudan (south of latitude 13° N).
Demography:
Population 32.7m (7.5m in Khartoum)
1. Population growth rate 2.63% .
2. 63.2% rural, 34.8% urban.
3. Majority along the rivers
4. Internal migration towards the cities.
5. Under 15 years 45.04%, above 60 3.9%.
6. Infant Mortality Rate 80/1000 live birth.
7. Maternal Mortality Ratio 350/100000.
Economy
Agriculture
1. The main source of Sudanese economy.
2. The irrigated schemes are the backbone of
the economy (Gezira, Rahad,Kenana,etc).
3. Arabic Gum 80% of the world product.
4. Animal wealth in Sudan is immense:
- Cattle 33 millions.
- Sheep 40 millions.
- Goats 36 millions.
- Camels 3 millions.
Economy
Industry
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Share of industrial production is only 9%.
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Potential of hydro-electric power in Sudan is great but exploitation
is low.
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Railway, sea, river and air transport are completely state owned.
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OIL is becoming the backbone
of the economy.
History of Health Services in Sudan
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1899 Began with the Anglo Egyptian Condominium.
Followed by Egyptian Army Medical Corp (E.A.M.C)
Then Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)
1901-1902 British doctors arrived in Sudan
1904-1908 six British doctors, 30 Syrian doctors
1908-1924 Modern Medical Service
1924-1948 Sudan Medical Service
1930 first batch of Sudanese doctors from Kitchner
Medical School
1925 there were 20 hospitals, 65 dispensaries
1965
73 hospitals, 62 health centres and 244
dispensaries
Health Services Up to 2005:
No. of hospitals
375
 No. of beds
26094
 Teaching hospitals
89
 Health centres
1043, Rural 485, urban 558
 Dispensaries
1475
 Dressing stations
2404
 Blood banks
63
 No.of doctors in 2005:
 Total number 8008: Specialist 1261, Registrar 591,
Dentists 471, Pharmacists 894
 The increase in the health services in the last 10
years is about 30%.
Situation in Gezira State where the
University is Located
2005
population 3905000 (12%)
52
hospitals (14.2%)
214
health centres (23.4%)
264
dispensaries (17.9%)
390
dressing stations (31.6%)
44
primary care unit
123
specialist- doctors: University 48,
Ministry of health 75
337
medical officers
70
pharmacist
21
dentists
Health services in Gezira State
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The health services in Gezira state is provided through
teaching hospitals, rural hospitals and health centres.
The teaching hospitals are mainly located in Wad Medani
town, they are
Wad Medani Teaching Hospital
Wad Medani Maternity Hospital
Wad Medani Paediatrics Teaching Hospital
Wad Medani Dermatology Teaching Hospital
Elsayem Eye hospital
Wad Medani Hospital of Renal Diseases and Surgery
Radiotherapy an Oncology hospital
Medical Education
1924 Kitchner Medical School in Khartoum
Now Faculty of Medicine University of
Khartoum.
1978 Juba Medical School
1978 Gezira Medical School
2005 30 Medical Schools (23 government,
private 7)
1977 Postgraduate Medical Education.
Gezira Medical School
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Annual intake 250.
Community Oriented Education.
Problem Based Learning.
Community Based Learning
Integrated system
Student centered education
Team work
Nationally and Internationally effective
Winner of the Prize for the best medical school
in the Arab world year 2002 (offered by
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoom,
UAE).
Faculty of Medicine University of Gezira
Curriculum Features:
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It’s ACOME programme
10 semesters -5 calendar years-249 credit hours.
Block system (courses).
All courses include activities learned in
community sites (PHC Units Rural Hospitals
,Villages, Families, and factories)
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Total number of medical officers needs for the
next 10 years
11770
Expected graduated of medical schools in 2013
would be 17778
Specialists needed 2004 -2013 is 5652
Expected graduates 5500
Sub-specialists need for the next ten years 739
Expected graduate 200
Common Medical Problems - 2005:
1. Malaria
2. Diarrhea diseases : Children 1050927, Adults
148753
3. Upper respiratory tract infection
4. Malnutrition
5. Anaemia
6. Bilharzia
7. Viral hepatitis
8. Heart disease
9. Tuberculosis
10. Diabetes meltites
11. Cancer
The ten Leading Causes of Death
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Malaria
Heart disease
Pneumonia
Diarrhea diseases
Septicemia
Anaemia
Cancer
Tuberculosis
Renal failure
Viral hepatitis
History of Medical Research
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1903 – 1932 Wellcome Tropical Research Laboratories
1902 Mr. Wellcome donated equipments for a research
laboratory as a gift to Sudan Government.
1903 SIR Andrew Bolfour commenced the work at the
Wellcome Tropical Research Laboratories in Khartoum.
First research was in Malaria.
1919 first 70 cases of Bilharzia were treated by Tartar
emetic (this is one of the most important contribution
from Sudan to the history of medicine).
1927 new laboratories (Sir. Lee Stack governor general
of Sudan who was assassinated in Cairo 1924.
1936 malaria research by Bedford.
1943 yellow fever
1944 –1952 Prof. Haseeb first Sudanese director of
Stack laboratories.
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1960 United States novel medical research unit no. 3
NAMRU3 epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis (Kala
Azar) in Sudan.
1963 Dr. Satti pioneer in research, established Sudan Medical
Research Council to organize medical research work..
1963 Sudan Medical Journal for research publications.
1964 Sir. Graham Wilson ex-director of public health
laboratories of England and Wales was invited to visit Sudan
to advise on laboratory and research work.
1970 National Public Health Laboratories
1970 National Council for Research
1972 Medical research Council
1972 Institute for Tropical Medicine
1972 –2000 several research units
Target Diseases:
Poverty Related Diseases (PRD) in Gezira:
1. Malaria
2. Schistosomiasis Bilharzia
3. Diarrheal diseases
4. Tuberculosis
TB
Other communicable diseases:
Typhoid fever
Brucellosis
3. Streptococcal infection.
4. Intestinal parasites
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Current Medical/Health Research in Gezira University
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Schistosomiasis (epidemiology, pathology, immunology,
genetics and control).
Malaria (epidemiology diagnosis, drug resistance and
control).
Leishmaniasis project (diagnosis).
Maternity and childhood health (safe motherhood).
Evaluation of health services in the community.
Impact of Gezira Medical School in the health services
(students role).
Cancer research (epidemiology and genetics).
TB (diagnosis and pharmaco-epidemiology).
HIV and viral hepatitides.
Traditional healing.