The Legendary Resilience of Al-Nau Hospital Staff and Khartoum Health Cadres
By Al-Tayeb Gasm Al-Sayed
With each new violation and barbaric attack on the patients, visitors, and staff of Al-Nau Hospital in Omdurman, images of extraordinary resilience emerge. Patients, their families, and the hospital staff in their various roles show remarkable strength and perseverance. Meanwhile, Khartoum’s health cadres rush to assess the damage and destruction inflicted on people, buildings, equipment, and resources.
This happens under the looming threat of shelling, which leaves behind heavy burdens, casualties, and wounds that not only harm bodies but also break hearts. Despite repeated attacks on this civilian medical institution, Al-Nau Hospital has stood firm in the face of continued aggression by the terrorist militia. These documented assaults are undeniable evidence of the brutality and lawlessness of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), casting doubt on the integrity of anyone behind this cancerous entity that has afflicted our beloved nation and wounded its resilient, patient, and steadfast people.
I write these words after listening to a brief live interview conducted by Al Jazeera with the director of Al-Nau Hospital following the brutal attack on the Sabreen Market. I was truly struck by the man’s calm and confidence as he spoke about the tragic consequences of the barbaric assault, which left many dead and injured. The victims were rushed to the hospital, and the director spoke with unwavering resolve about the available resources to respond to the aftermath. He described major surgeries being performed, varying degrees of injuries being treated, and the steadfastness of the hospital’s staff across all specialties. His confident tone and steady words conveyed a sense of reassurance and strength.
The director’s composure and noble resilience seem to stem from the support of Khartoum’s executive and health authorities, led by the governor, who has remained visibly present in the field. With every incident and disaster caused by the criminal militia known as the RSF, the governor rushes to the scene accompanied by his assistants, advisers, and decision-makers. According to reports from the Khartoum Health Emergency Committee, 12 ambulances were deployed through self-efforts to handle the health repercussions of the Sabreen Market attack.
The Ministry of Health in Khartoum State demonstrated remarkable capability in containing the critical health situation caused by the militia’s deliberate shelling of Sabreen Market, which resulted in the deaths of 57 civilians and left 160 others with severe injuries.
What fills us with confidence and fortitude is what was revealed in the recent weekly meeting of the Khartoum State Health Emergency Committee. A significant achievement was announced: the rehabilitation and operation of 12 ambulances equipped with the necessary devices and staffed with professionals to evacuate the injured from the scene to Al-Nau Teaching Hospital for treatment. The medical staff at the hospital managed to stabilize 110 critical cases within an hour and transferred other injured individuals to Omdurman Hospital after providing them with initial emergency care.
During that important meeting, it was confirmed that the conditions of the injured had stabilized and that the immediate crisis at Sabreen Market had been contained. Efforts were made to ensure the availability of emergency medical supplies and sufficient blood reserves at Al-Nau Hospital. The meeting also expressed high appreciation for the hospital administration and its staff for their outstanding competence in triaging and treating critical cases.
The reassurance shared during the meeting—that all public hospitals in Khartoum State are well-prepared to manage incidents and crises with resources similar to those at Al-Nau Hospital—brought great relief to the people of Khartoum.
Thus, the meaning and values of our heritage shine through once again. We, dear citizens, are the descendants of a proud people and a noble nation.
