Sudan, the largest country in Africa, has been blighted by conflict for more than 30 years. In 2005 a peace agreement between the north and south ended the country’s civil war, beginning the slow process of reconciliation and reconstruction. However, the agreement has not delivered a total end to fighting, and civilians continue to be targeted by militias. In the western region of Darfur, an ongoing conflict has forced two million people from their homes. It has been described by the UN as “one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.”
While the weapons of war have taken a heavy toll on the people of Sudan, disease and malnutrition have been responsible for the greatest number of casualties. Children in particular are highly vulnerable to malaria and diarrhoea, once their bodies are weakened by a lack of food and clean water.
HOW MERLIN IS HELPING
North Sudan
Since 2004, Merlin has been providing vital medical services in Darfur, both to thousands of displaced people fleeing conflict and to the equally underserved local communities. Merlin offers comprehensive primary health care, focusing on maternal and child health, disease prevention and health education, through a network of static and mobile clinics in the region.
In March 2009, 100,000 people were left without humanitarian assistance in Kalma camp following the expulsion of 13 International NGOs. Merlin has since conducted a needs assessment and is now running a large primary health care clinic in the camp, as well as the nutritional care services for the entire camp.
Accessing rural communities is a daily challenge in Darfur due to the region’s insecurity and our programmes are constantly adapted to ensure we can provide vital services to the greatest number of people possible.
South Sudan
Merlin has been delivering health care in South Sudan since 1997, working to improve the health of vulnerable people who have suffered for decades from war, famine and disease. From 2004 onwards, we have had a continual presence in the region, and are supporting hospitals and clinics across Eastern Equatoria and Jonglei States.
Merlin is taking a longer term approach to health in South Sudan because of the peace agreement. We are building a relationship together with South Sudan’s Ministry of Health, in order to build the capacity of health workers and staff, as well as improving processes and infrastructure, to ensure that the quality and accessibility of health services continues to improve long into the future.
Supporting mobile and static clinics
In Darfur, Merlin is providing primary health care services in conflict-affected areas. Every six months, we treat 134,000 people using mobile and static clinics in Gereida and Kalma camps, as well as Adilla and Sanyafundu regions.
In South Sudan, we are supporting two major hospitals and nine primary health care facilities, providing vital health care and preventing disease for isolated and vulnerable people. Health workers at these facilities treat over 50,000 people in an average three month period.
Improving maternal and child health
Merlin is running vital antenatal clinics in three areas of Darfur. Our trained midwives provide safe delivery kits, iron, folic acid and other supplements, and health education to expectant mothers at the clinics. Over 12,000 women attend these clinics every six months.
We are also helping to prevent disease in camps for displaced people in South Darfur through immunisation and health education. Every three months, over 1,600 children benefit from immunisation services, and over 43,000 people attend health promotion sessions, which stress the importance of hygiene, vaccination and malaria prevention techniques.
Training health workers
Merlin has conducted training for health workers on dispensing medicines, diagnosis and case management of common illnesses, health information management and infection prevention. We have also organised community mobilisation sessions and training on child nutrition and health care for key community leaders, community health workers, members of women’s groups, and village health committee members.
Key achievements
- Treating over 120,000 beneficiaries in direct curative consultations every six months at Merlin’s supported clinics in Darfur
- Operating a nutritional programme for Kalma Camp supporting the enitre population of the camp
- Reaching 50,000 people with vital community health and hygiene promotion messages in May 2009
- Continuing to support and rehabilitate two hospitals and nine health facilities in South Sudan, reaching over 50,000 people every three months
- Providing the only health care support in the Southern Jonglei state through Boma Hospital.
Donors supporting Merlin's work
European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), United States Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission, Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund, The Annenberg Foundation, World Food Programme, UNICEF, Basic Services Fund (BSF), Intrahealth, World Health Organisation (WHO).
Read more about Sudan
A lifeline for the displaced in Darfur
15 Aug 07: Merlin has recently constructed a permanent clinic at Hijer in South Darfur
Working for Merlin in Darfur
9 Jan 07: In Darfur, two national staff members explain their motivations for working for Merlin.
FIELD DIARY: The frontline fight for health
1 Sep 06: A day with one of Merlin’s mobile teams reaching the displaced and the destitute in Darfur.
EYEWITNESS: Mobile clinics in Darfur
2 Dec 05: Jacob Hughes, Merlin’s Operations Manager for Africa, recently returned from a monitoring visit to Darfur in Sudan.
A ray of optimism in South Sudan
27 Apr 05: Health advisor, Dr Richard Godfrey, visited Merlin's projects shortly after the January 2005 peace deal was signed.
DEC launches Sudan emergency appeal
20 Jul 04: The United Nations describes the situation unfolding in Darfur, western Sudan, as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
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