Sudan’s maternity wards reopen, bringing hope amid post-war struggles
In the Sudanese city of Omdurman, the maternity hospital, known locally as Al-Dayat or ‘Midwives” in English, has resumed operations after a long closure caused by the war. Mothers are once again arri
In the Sudanese city of Omdurman, the maternity hospital, known locally as Al-Dayat or ‘Midwives” in English, has resumed operations after a long clos
Read Full Story at Al Jazeera →Why This Matters
The reopening of Al-Dayat Maternity Hospital in Omdurman is more than a logistical triumph—it signals a fragile but critical step toward restoring Sudan’s crumbling healthcare infrastructure. For a nation where maternal mortality rates were already among the world’s highest, this facility’s return offers a lifeline to women and newborns caught in the crossfire of war, economic collapse, and displacement.
Background Context
Sudan’s healthcare system has been systematically dismantled by over a year of brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, leaving nearly 80% of hospitals in conflict zones non-functional. Omdurman, a densely populated urban center, has become a microcosm of the crisis, with displaced families overwhelming makeshift clinics and traditional birth attendants.
What Happens Next
The hospital’s reopening hinges on sustained ceasefires, reliable supply chains for medical equipment, and protection from looting or attacks—a tall order in a war where neither side has prioritized civilian infrastructure. If other shuttered facilities follow suit, it could reduce preventable deaths, but without broader stabilization, such efforts may prove temporary.
Bigger Picture
Sudan’s maternity crisis reflects a global pattern where war and climate shocks disproportionately devastate women’s health systems, from Yemen to Gaza. The reopening of Al-Dayat underscores how fragile humanitarian gains can be without political will, but also how local resilience—often unseen—can force progress even in darkness.
