Khartoum and World Health Organization hatch Sudan’s National Health Sector Recovery Strategic Plan
For three consecutive years since April 2023, the war in Sudan has caused widespread displacement, economic hardship and reduced access to essential services, including health care, water and food.
Black News 
The World Health Organization and Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health have introduced the country’s National Health Sector Recovery Strategic Plan.
Running between 2026 and 2030, this is a 5-year roadmap to guide the health emergency response and advance health system recovery efforts developed by the Federal Ministry of Health with World Health Organization (WHO) technical support.
The event brought together government officials, United Nations (UN) agencies, partners and stakeholders to reflect on the impact of the 3-year conflict on Sudan’s health sector and present a forward-looking recovery strategy.
For three consecutive years since April 2023, the war in Sudan has caused widespread displacement, economic hardship and reduced access to essential services, including health care, water and food.
The health system has been severely affected, with damaged infrastructure, shortages of medicines, reduced workforce and disrupted service delivery limiting access to lifesaving care.
Three years into the conflict, 33.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 21 million in urgent need of health support. The crisis has displaced 13.5 million people, and 19.5 million are facing acute hunger.
In 2026, over 825,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, and 122,000 to develop life-threatening complications.
Since the outbreak of conflict, WHO has verified 220 attacks on health care, resulting in 2052 deaths and 810 injuries of health care workers and patients, with damaged facilities, equipment and supplies further impacting access to health care.
Despite this, the health sector continues to serve as a lifeline, sustaining strong collaboration with WHO and health partners for an effective health emergency response.
Throughout the conflict, WHO has worked closely with national and state authorities and health partners to deliver lifesaving care, strengthen surveillance and outbreak response, support vulnerable populations and rehabilitate health facilities.
Since the outbreak of war in Sudan, WHO has delivered close to 4000 metric tons of medicines and medical supplies to the Ministry of Health and other partners, helping to ensure continuity of essential health services to the most vulnerable.
WHO has supported the provision of essential health care to more than 4 million people, responded to disease outbreaks, including containment of 2 cholera outbreaks, and strengthened preparedness capacity for epidemic-prone diseases.
Since 2023, WHO has also supported the management of over 120 000 admissions of children with complicated severe acute malnutrition and administered more than 46 million doses of vaccines for cholera, polio, diphtheria and measles or rubella, and malaria.
WHO Representative in Sudan Dr Shible Sahbani commended the leadership of the Ministry of Health in the health response and recovery efforts, and the resilience of Sudan’s health workforce.
“In the midst of immense challenges, the health sector has stood as a symbol of Sudan’s resilience,” he said.
He paid tribute to Sudan’s health workers for their dedication under extremely challenging conditions, highlighting efforts to sustain services and lead recovery.
The Sudanese Minister of Health, Dr Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim thanked WHO and partners, acknowledging the support provided and the solidarity shown.
Dr Ibrahim emphasized that health is a bridge to peace for Sudan and reiterated Sudan’s commitment to rebuilding a resilient system.
The National Health Sector Recovery Strategic Plan (2026–2030) prioritizes restoring primary health care and rehabilitating health facilities, with a focus on areas hosting displaced populations.
It aims to protect and retain the health workforce while strengthening disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and access to essential medicines and vaccines.
In the coming period, the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, will focus on restoring minimum health service packages across states and advancing early recovery actions.
The event concluded with a shared commitment to continue strengthening partnerships to support recovery and build a stronger, more resilient, equitable and sustainable health system for Sudan.
