Health

=**__ Health facilities __****__ – __****__ doctors and clinics and pharmacies __**=

==== The climate can cause more respiratory problems than back home and the water/ food may lead to gastric and intestinal upsets from time to time, but generally there are not many health concerns in Khartoum. Malaria is present but very little heard of amongst expats – use of insect repellent and nets are advisable. Prophylatics are not often used except if travelling to neighbouring countries. Water-borne diseases such as salmonella, typhoid, shigella, giardia, hep A and amoebiasis are a risk, so take sensible precautions with drinking water, eating out and food preparation. ====

==== There are several hospitals around. Doctors Clinic on Africa Road used to be the advised first stop for expats, NGOs etc. This has changed for Fedail Hospital, which is now the reference hospital for many organisations. Khartoum General Hospital on Hospital St in Khartoum and the hospital opposite Tutti Frutti have also been used. ====

==== __Fedail Hospital__ is a pretty new hospital in Khartoum and it seems to be quite good. They attended us at night as our daughter had breathing problems, coughed a lot and was running a high fever. I liked that the doctor ran lab tests to confirm his diagnosis before prescribing antibiotics. ====

//Fees//: consultation 20 SDG, lab tests 40 SDG
==== //Direction//: the hospital is not straightforward to find and it is not yet on the maps. Coming from Amarat or Khartoum 2 you arrive at the railway tracks running along Al Imam Street, keep on going straight ahead on McNimir Street until you reach the next set of streetlight, turn left into Al Sayed Abdel Rahman Street, then again turn left into the 2nd street, go till you hit the backside of Khartoum Hospital, then turn left again and you should be close to Fedail Hospital. It has a large illuminated vertical sign outside announcing the hospital in latin and arabic letters. Basically it is on the backside of Khartoum Hospital, diagonally opposite the Children´s Clinic of Khartoum Hospital, but because of one way streets etc you have to go all the way around (at least I haven´t found yet an easier way to get there). ====

==== For children, the __Khartoum Children____’____s Clinic__ might be the first port of call or at least getting to a hospital close to you then phoning the emergency number or any doctor’s number you have. ====

__ Khartoum Children’ __ __s Clinic__
==== • Khartoum Children's Clinic has recently moved to Africa Medical Centre on the corner of Street 1 with Africa Road. This practice is staffed by 4 paediatricians and has opened only earlier this year. Having seen parents and their children going through troublesome times at local hospitals they have set up a number of procedures in order to better assist them. ====

==== If you are bringing your child after the course of injections given in most European countries, the States or Canada, your child needs little else. Many parents give their child the BCG vaccination (in the UK this is possible straight from birth) and it is possible to also give Hep B from quite young. Many of the vaccinations in the UK are available here, except the recently introduced PCV. The Polio is still a drop rather than included in the vaccination and it is DPT rather than DTaP. Yellow fever is required for some neighbouring countries but check carefully about timing with other vaccinations also being given. ====

Most hospitals have a regular schedule of vaccination days. Doctor´s Clinic every Tuesday from 9am to 2pm, Mehaira Hospital every Wednesday and Sunday from 9am to 2pm. On those days the hospitals are visited by MoH staff and routine vaccinations are given. Since recently the vaccines that combines the 5 most basic vaccines into one shot are available. Polio is still a drop in the mouth. Meningococcal and yellow fever vaccines are equally available but only at specific vaccination points (will find out about that, also availability of PCV still unclear). I am not sure if how well the cold chain works.

•Gynaecology/Obstetrics
==== __Prof. Ashmaig__ at the __Reproductive Health Centre__ on McNimir Street. Right hand side when you come from Amarat/Khartoum 2, the building before the German Cultural Centre. Tel: 0183788630. His consultation times are a bit weird by European standards: 8 to 12 pm, four times a week. But the practice is well equipped with scans, lab and a pharmacy. Usually rather short waiting times. ====

====There a few pharmacy chains with shops all over town: McNimir Pharmacies, Queens Pharmacies, Burhan Pharmacy. They are at the same time shops stocked with beauty products, various baby/toddler items, a few food products. They usually open at 10 am until about 11pm. Closed on Fridays. ==== ====Particularly useful and well stocked I found the Yeshfeen Pharmacy on Cemetery Road (which is another name for Mohammed Nageeb Road), opposite the Ibn Sina Hospital. The owner is actually a proper pharmacist and he can also give useful advice. The pharmacy opens at 7am and is open until midnight. Open on Fridays. ==== ==== Most medicines are stocked from cough and cold medicines, children’s paracetemol (Amidol), malarial treatment, creams etc. If you have particular creams for infantile excema and other regular medication you give and are familiar with, then bring it from home, but even children’s vitamin syrups can be found and most drugs used. Prescription drugs can be bought without a prescription(!), but there is not as wide a range as in the UK, for example, so check before you come. ====