Sudan turns to AI as health system struggles ^{CEFR B2}

Sudan’s health system is under severe strain after an almost two‑year civil war that began to escalate in April 2023. The World Health Organization has warned of shortages of medical supplies, a loss of doctors and damaged or looted facilities. Al‑Moghirah Al‑Amin Gad Al‑Sayed, director of the department of therapeutic medicine at the Federal Ministry of Health, says the country is turning to artificial intelligence to help provide care where traditional services no longer reach.

Al‑Sayed described a practical use of AI: a system can examine an x‑ray when no doctor is present, match the image against thousands of stored images and suggest a likely diagnosis. He noted that many studies report high diagnostic accuracy for AI because the systems combine large datasets with clinical knowledge from human practitioners. Still, he stressed that AI cannot replace health workers and that more staff, medicines and devices are urgently required.

The humanitarian situation has deepened the health crisis. Al‑Sayed said 50 medical staff were killed in attacks on health centres by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and that attacks on women by the RSF have pushed many families from their homes. The UN says more than 11.5 million people have been displaced since clashes began between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces in April 2023. Extreme weather and floods that began in June last year killed scores of people, destroyed thousands of homes, and contributed to cholera outbreaks and infestations of scorpions and snakes in some states. MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders) remains a key partner in safer areas but needs more donor support to expand services. Al‑Sayed called for new delivery methods, including neutral actors to provide vaccinations where normal health systems have broken down, and he urged more international attention and support to address the multiple threats to public health.