Sudanese NHS Doctor Rejoins UK After Long Wait
Sudanese NHS Doctor Given Seat on Evacuation Flight from Sudan
A Sudanese NHS doctor, who was initially refused a place on a UK evacuation flight from Sudan, has finally been given a seat on a flight to Cyprus, and will be travelling to the UK on Saturday. Dr Abdulrahman Babiker, who holds a UK work permit, was turned away by officials on Thursday, as only UK passport holders were being accepted. After contacting his MP, he made the difficult journey to Wadi Seidna air base, where he queued for 16 hours, only to be told that he could not board.
However, after receiving public attention and support from colleagues and friends, Dr Babiker was allowed a seat on an evacuation flight, which has given him some relief. But he remains concerned about the safety of his family and friends left behind in Sudan. The Khartoum International Airport has been shut for almost two weeks due to fighting between two warring factions, making it difficult for people to evacuate the country.
Dr Babiker's case has drawn attention to the plight of at least 24 Sudanese NHS doctors who were in a similar situation. The Foreign Office had said it was prioritising UK nationals and those in Dr Babiker's situation needed to make their own way to the UK. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said the UK government is in touch with the Sudanese Doctors' Association to see what further support they can provide for them.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to the destruction of large sections of the capital Khartoum, with rival factions within the Sudanese military battling for control. Hospitals in conflict areas are not functioning, and more than 60% of health facilities in Khartoum are inactive. The World Health Organization has warned that outbreaks of disease and a lack of services could lead to many more deaths in the country.
Sudan has historical ties to the UK, as it was controlled as a British colony between the 1890s and 1956, when it became independent. There are around 35,000 people living in the UK who were born in Sudan, including 20,000 Sudanese nationals, according to the Office of National Statistics. The UK government has been evacuating British nationals and their eligible dependents from Sudan, but the evacuation flights are due to end on Saturday at 18:00 BST.
The situation in Sudan remains precarious, with ongoing violence and instability causing widespread concern for the safety of those still in the country. The plight of Sudanese NHS doctors like Dr Babiker highlights the difficulties faced by many in trying to leave the country and find safety elsewhere.
The UK government's response to the crisis has been criticised by some, who argue that more should be done to support those seeking to leave Sudan. The fact that Dr Babiker was initially turned away from the evacuation flight due to his nationality, despite holding a valid UK work permit, has been seen as indicative of broader failures in the government's approach to the crisis.
However, the news that Dr Babiker has now been given a seat on an evacuation flight will be welcomed by many. His story has helped to draw attention to the plight of those caught up in the conflict in Sudan, and to the urgent need for action to protect vulnerable people from harm.
As the evacuation operation draws to a close, attention will now turn to what more can be done to support those who have been forced to leave their homes and livelihoods behind. The challenges facing Sudanese NHS doctors like Dr Babiker are just one example of the complex and difficult issues that must be addressed in order to ensure that those affected by the crisis are able to rebuild their lives and find a path to a better future.
In recent years, there has been a vast boom among the wide variety of Sudanese docs running for the United Kingdom`s National Health Service (NHS). According to the General Medical Council, there have been 3,117 Sudanese docs registered to exercise within the UK as of March 2021, making them the 5th biggest institution of foreign-educated docs within the United States of America.
Many of those docs have been drawn to the United Kingdom due to the possibilities it gives for professional improvement and the danger of benefiting from a precious level in a one-of-a-kind healthcare system. However, the continued disaster in Sudan has made it more and more hard for them to journey to and from their domestic United States of America.
In addition to the cutting-edge war, Sudan has confronted some different demanding situations in the latest years, which include an excessive monetary disaster, excessive tiers of poverty, and a loss of admission to healthcare offerings in lots of areas. These problems have brought about a mind drain, with many relatively professional specialists leaving the United States of America on the lookout for higher possibilities elsewhere.
Despite those demanding situations, there are numerous Sudanese docs who continue to be dedicated to enhancing the healthcare of their domestic United States of America. Some have installed their personal scientific clinics or labored with global agencies to offer much-wanted offerings in underserved areas.
However, the continued war has made it more and more hard for healthcare employees to perform correctly in Sudan. The International Committee of the Red Cross has suggested that scientific centers and employees be focused on the fighting, placing sufferers and healthcare employees at risk.
As the scenario in Sudan keeps evolving, it's far from clear that the United States of America will have to stand with vast demanding situations within the years to come. However, the bravery and determination of healthcare employees like Dr. Abdulrahman Babiker functions as a reminder of the significance of helping folks that are running to enhance the lives of others withinside the face of adversity.