Sudan, with its estimated 25 000 cases per year, is not a high burden country for tuberculosis. However, it is a concern that the severe food insecurity as a result of the war, combined with a very weak health care system, will increase the spread of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. It is especially a risk for women and girls in Sudan, as they do not have equal access to health- and other services.

Our partner in Sudan, Health Development Program, have 27 000 volunteers that covers all 18 states of Sudan. HDP is the only civil society organization working with tuberculosis in the country and through this project they are able to train thousands of health workers and reach out to thousands of key and vulnerable populations with screening, awareness raising and social, nutritional and livelihood support. They work in refugee camps and prisons, and reach out to miners, street children and slum dwellers.

The war has led to HDP head office moving out of Khartoum, but they have been able to continue their work without too much interruption. They are also still maintaining their advocacy and legal work, being the voice of people with tuberculosis, and of the countless women and children without access to health services in the country.