Sudan's revolutionary medics turn activist networks against coronavirus

Doctors were on the front lines of last year's uprising against Omar Al Bashir, now they are deploying the same logistics against coronavirus

Sudanese men gather in prayers in a street in the capital Khartoum after breaking their fast during Ramadan on April 25, 2020 amid a curfew due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. AFP

Dr Alshafie Hussein spends every waking hour treating the sick at Jubra hospital, the main battleground against Covid-19 in Sudan's capital of Khartoum. Since early March, the 37-year-old hasn't seen his wife or child for fear of infecting them.

Even now, during Ramadan, he only interacts with his colleagues and patients and sleeps alone in an office near the hospital.

Dr Hussein is just one of the medical professionals who are once again rallying together to try and save Sudan.

"People trust us because we were on the frontlines during the revolution," said Dr Hussein, referring to the role doctors played in toppling former dictator Omar Al Bashir in 2019. "Now we have a duty to help our people again."

With Sudan already navigating a tumultuous transition to democracy, authorities are struggling to contain a Covid-19 outbreak. So far, health officials have detected 237 cases and pronounced 21 people dead from the disease.

But the real number is believed to be higher since a lack of testing kits is stopping the government from collecting data.

Filling the void are activists that spearheaded protests against Al Bashir. Along with doctors like Mr Hussein, other medical workers and activists are raising awareness about the disease, supplying hospitals with equipment and providing food to the poor.

Dr Mouzan Abdelrahan, 30, is just one person doing her part. Beyond working in a hospital in the city of Omdurman across the Nile River from the capital, she also speaks to communities regularly about the importance of hand-washing and social distancing. Most people welcome the information, yet others still believe that the pandemic isn't real.

"Some people are in denial because deep down they're panicking," she told The National over the phone.

Sudanese protesters run for cover from tear gas canisters fired by police outside the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum on April 6, 2019. AFP

Sudanese protesters rally in front of the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum on April 8, 2019. AFP

Alaa Salah, a Sudanese woman propelled to internet fame earlier this week after clips went viral of her leading powerful protest chants against President Omar Al Bashir, addresses protesters during a demonstration in front of the military headquarters in the capital Khartoum on April 10, 2019. AFP

Sudanese judges, dressed in their robes, gather for a "million-strong" march outside the army headquarters in the capital Khartoum on April 25, 2019. AFP

A Sudanese anti-regime protester kisses a soldier on the head during protests on April 11, 2019 in the area around the army headquarters in Sudan's capital Khartoum. AFP

Sudanese demonstrators march with national flags as they gather during a rally demanding a civilian body to lead the transition to democracy. AFP

Protesters massed outside the army complex in central Khartoum on April 6, initially to demand the overthrow of longtime leader Omar Al Bashir. AFP

Sudanese protesters gather outside the army headquarters in Khartoum on May 6, 2019. AFP

Sudanese protesters burn tyres as they block Nile Street for the second consecutive day during continuing protests in Sudan's capital Khartoum on May 13, 2019. AFP

Sudanese protesters wave flags and flash victory signs as they gather for a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum on May 19, 2019. AFP

A Sudanese health worker carries a placard as scores of medics hold a rally in front of a hospital in the capital Khartoum on May 23, 2019. AFP

Sudanese supporters of the ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC) hold up a sign showing a portrait of its head General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan with a caption below reading in Arabic "we have delegated you Burhan, we want no president but you", during a rally in the centre of the capital Khartoum on May 31, 2019. AFP

Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Himediti, deputy head of Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council and commander of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitaries, waves a baton to supporters on a vehicle as he arrives for a rally in the village of Abraq, about 60 kilometres northwest of Khartoum, on June 22, 2019. AFP

Sudanese protestors celebrate in the streets of Khartoum after ruling generals and protest leaders announced they have reached an agreement on the disputed issue of a new governing body on July 5, 2019. AFP

Thousands went to the streets to welcome the agreement on Saturday. AFP

Sudanese protesters take part in a vigil in the capital Khartoum to mourn dozens of demonstrators killed last month in a raid on a Khartoum sit-in. AFP

Sudanese protesters gather during Friday noon prayers outside the army headquarters in Khartoum on May 3, 2019, as they continue to protest demanding that the ruling military council hand power to a civilian administration. AFP

Sudanese civilians from other provinces ride on the train to join in the celebrations of the signing of Sudan's power-sharing deal. Reuters

Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change coalition leader Ahmad Rabiah (3-R) and Sudan's General and Vice President of Sudanese Transitional Military Council, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (2-R) sign power-sharing agreement,. EPA

Sudan's Head of Transitional Military Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and Sudan's opposition alliance coalition's leader Ahmad Rabiah, celebrate the signing of the power-sharing deal, that paves the way for a transitional government, and eventual elections. Reuters

epa07783624 Leader of Sudan's transitional council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan (R) is sworn in as the Head of the newly formed transitional Council at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, 21 August 2019. The Sudanese opposition and military council signed on 17 August a power sharing agreement. The agreement sets up a sovereign council made of five generals and six civilians, to rule the country until general elections. Protests had erupted in Sudan at the end of 2018, culminating in a long sit-in outside the army headquarters which ended with more than one hundred people being killed and others injured. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir stepped down on 11 April 2019. EPA/STRINGER

A pictured released by Sudan's Presidential Palace shows General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's ruling military council, during a swearing in ceremony in Khartoum on August 21, 2019. Burhan was sworn today as chairman of Sudan's new sovereign council that will steer the country through a three-year transition to civilian rule. "General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdel Rahman was sworn in as president of the sovereign council," the official SUNA news agency reported. / AFP / SUDAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE / - / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SUDAN PRESIDENTAIL PALACE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A picture released by Sudan's Presidential Palace shows General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's ruling military council, during a swearing in ceremony in Khartoum on August 21, 2019. Burhan was sworn today as chairman of Sudan's new sovereign council that will steer the country through a three-year transition to civilian rule. "General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdel Rahman was sworn in as president of the sovereign council," the official SUNA news agency reported. / AFP / SUDAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE / - / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SUDAN PRESIDENTAIL PALACE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

A picture released by Sudan's Presidential Palace shows General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (C-R), the head of Sudan's ruling military council, standing during a swearing in of the new sovereign council, in Khartoum on August 21, 2019. Sudan took further steps in its transition towards civilian rule today with the swearing in of a new sovereign council, to be followed by the appointment of a prime minister. The body replaces the Transitional Military Council (TMC) that took charge after months of deadly street protests brought down longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in April. Burhan, who already headed the TMC, was sworn in as the chairman of the new sovereign council in the morning. / AFP / SUDAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE / - / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SUDAN PRESIDENTAIL PALACE" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

epa07784051 Members of Sudan's newly formed transitional Council (R-L) General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Hassan Sheikh Idris, Genereal Ibrahim Jaber, Raja Nicola Issa Abdul-Masseh, General Shams al-Din Kabashi, Aisha Moussa, Mohamed Alfaki, General Yasser al-Atta and Sadeek Tawer look on during their sweaing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, 21 August 2019. The Sudanese opposition and military council signed on 17 August a power sharing agreement. The agreement sets up a sovereign council made of five generals and six civilians, to rule the country until general elections. Protests had erupted in Sudan at the end of 2018, culminating in a long sit-in outside the army headquarters which ended with more than one hundred people being killed and others injured. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir stepped down on 11 April 2019. EPA/MORWAN ALI

Demonstrators march with banners and the old (L) and current (R) flags of Sudan outside a courthouse complex in the capital's twin city of Omdurman on August 21, 2019 during the trial of 40 members of Sudan's now-dissolved National Intelligence and Security Service facing charges over the death in custody of Ahmed al-Kheir, a teacher from the eastern town of Khashma el-Girba, in the early days of the wave of nationwide protests that eventually brought longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir. / AFP / Ahmed Mustafa

epa07784904 Sudan's new Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (L) swears in during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, 21 August 2019. The Sudanese opposition and military council signed on 17 August a power sharing agreement. The agreement sets up a sovereign council made of five generals and six civilians, to rule the country until general elections. Protests had erupted in Sudan in December 2018, culminating in a long sit-in outside the army headquarters which ended with more than one hundred people being killed and others injured. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir stepped down on 11 April 2019. EPA/MARWAN ALI

epa07784903 Sudan's new Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (L) shakes hands with Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan (R) after being sworn in during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, 21 August 2019. The Sudanese opposition and military council signed on 17 August a power sharing agreement. The agreement sets up a sovereign council made of five generals and six civilians, to rule the country until general elections. Protests had erupted in Sudan in December 2018, culminating in a long sit-in outside the army headquarters which ended with more than one hundred people being killed and others injured. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir stepped down on 11 April 2019. EPA/MARWAN ALI

Sudan's new Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok speaks duringa press conference in Khartoum, Sudan, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. (AP Photo)

The government is also sounding the alarm. On April 11, Sudan's Health Minister Akram Ali Altom told reporters that his country needs at least $120 million to fight the epidemic. He added that a large outbreak would quickly overwhelm a health sector, which suffers from a chronic shortage of ventilators and hospital beds due to decades of neglect during Al Bashir's repressive rule.

To date, no country has answered Mr Altom's plea and US sanctions held over from the old regime's support for terror groups including Al Qaeda also cut it off financially from donor organisations.

Sudan's Minister of Health Akram Ali Altom discusses concerns about the spread of coronavirus disease in Khartoum. Reuters

UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday called for the US to drop the sanctions to help Khartoum manage the pandemic and also break the dire economic turmoil that sparked the protests that led to Al Bashir's ousting.

"The only way Sudan will ever be able to break out of this cycle of poverty and desperation is to be freed from the impediments of sanctions imposed at the time of the previous government," said Ms Bachelet.

But, support is coming from the network of overseas and exiled activists.

Solafa Saada, a Sudanese refugee living in the Netherlands, is the co-founder of Sharaa Hawajz, an NGO that distributed medical aid to doctors and pharmacists during the uprising last year.

Now, the group is collecting donations and paying local companies to produce much needed protective gear for medical workers.

"Importing supplies was going to be too expensive, so our group had to find ways for Sudan to produce them domestically," Ms Saada told The National. "One company we approached has already made a batch of medical gowns. Sanitizer is also being made and handed out to communities."

Despite Ms Saada's efforts, inflation and poverty are compounding the challenges to slow the spread of Covid-19. Communities reliant on the informal economy are particularly worried about going hungry if they stay indoors.

Coronavirus around the Middle East 

Warning stickers pasted on the floor in The Walk at the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai. Authorities eased the restrictions for residents in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Ace Hardware Abu Dhabi during the Ramadan sale at Yas Island. Victor Besa / The National

Medical personnel checks an X-ray at the Imbaba Fevers Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Visitors wearing the protective face mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at the Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Authorities eased restrictions for residents in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Medical personnel sit outside at the Imbaba Fevers Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

Health workers help a woman who tested positive for the coronavirus, at Bagcilar in Istanbul. AFP

An employee of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality youth centre sews face masks, in Ankara, Turkey. AFP

A health worker wearing a protectie suit disinfects a market amid concerns of the spread of the coronavirus disease, in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters

Kuwait's Health Minister Sheikh Basil al-Sabah (C), as he meets with members of a Chinese health delegation visiting Kuwait to exchange experiences on strategies, plans, and procedures to contain the coronavirus. AFP

That didn't stop the government from imposing a three-week lockdown on Khartoum on April 19.

A sharp uptick in Covid-19 cases prompted the move, which also exposed tensions between local and national authorities – most notably, Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok fired the military governor of Khartoum for refusing to enforce the lockdown.

Once he was dismissed, a curfew was put in place while soldiers set up checkpoints to stop civilians from leaving their neighbourhoods.

Activists haven't decried the show of force, yet many say that financially supporting the poor is a more effective way to get people to stay inside.

The economic crisis has compelled activists like Hadia Hasballah to assume that role. As the head of the civil society group Al Harsat – or The Guardians – she notes that many Sudanese women are heading their households after losing their husbands and sons to the decades-long civil war that split Sudan into two countries.

"We have delivered 2,400 food packages to women-led households in Khartoum," Ms Hasballah said proudly. "It's a small bit of help that enables women to stay indoors for at least a couple of weeks."

While that may be true, the pattern elsewhere suggests that the government will have to maintain the lockdown for months to eliminate the spread. But the bigger issue may be the stigma surrounding the virus.

Just last month, about 300 people escaped quarantine hospitals after refusing to take a test. Medical workers say that many of those who fled showed symptoms of the virus.

"Patients are still understanding the disease," said Dr Hussein, the medic from Jabra hospital. "Many believe that they will surely die or be permanently ostracized by their communities if they contract Covid-19."

The misinformation has prompted health officials to provide counselling to patients. Medics say that attitudes are gradually changing, yet a catastrophic outbreak appears inevitable after so many patients escaped.

"Doctors and volunteers share the same motive to save this country," said Dr Hussein. "But we know that we don't have the capacity to fight this virus."