Stories
October 8, 2021 • 2 min read
Three health districts in Sudan are benefiting from new 4×4 vehicles donated by GOAL to support health care delivery to vulnerable people in North Darfur State.
The vehicles were handed over to the Kutum, Umbaro and Serf Umra Locality Health Departments (LHDs), where GOAL has been implementing the HealthPro project since 2020, funded by the by European Union .
The people living in these areas had been affected by the Darfur conflict for many years, and HealthPro is one of many projects implemented by GOAL in the area.
The project aims to build the capacity of the three LHDs in delivering sustained health services, in line with the Sudanese Government’s objective of strengthening the decentralized health system across Sudan. The LHDs have ten Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities and various community health care structures in their catchment areas.
The Health Pro Project has two major components. The first is strengthening health system actors by upgrading and rehabilitating health facilities, providing medical equipment and improving the health financing and medical supply systems. The second is empowering local communities to engage and hold health services accountable, by supporting Community Health Committees (CHCs); Village Saving & Loans Associations (VSLAs); Care Groups; Nutrition Impact & Positive Practices (NIPP) circles and School Health Clubs. Combined, these approaches will lead to a more effective, sustainable, and responsive health services.
GOAL donated the three vehicles to support the LHDs to mentor and supervise clinic staff; deliver lifesaving medications and supplies; run vaccination campaigns and screenings, and implement health promotion and disease prevention activities at community level. The clinics in these areas are often hours-long drive from LHD offices over bad roads, so rugged and capable vehicles are essential for their work.
The Director General of the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) for North Darfur, key SMOH staff and GOAL staff including the Area Coordinator, Richard Ukuni, attended the handing over ceremony. Mr. Ukuni thanked the State Ministry of Health and the State Government of North Darfur for the close collaboration with GOAL on this project, and support to be able to access these areas.
GOAL is implementing the HealthPro project in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health (SMOH), the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), and the National Medical Supplies Fund (NMSF).