On 18 August 2016, UNAMID peacekeepers from Bangladesh in West Darfur, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and Government of Sudan (GoS) Military Hospital, provided free medical services to the local inhabitants at Krinding (2) IDP camp in El Geneina. More than 350 IDPs--men, women and children--received this medical support which included primary health care; tutorials on general health issues; blood grouping for children; malaria screening and treatment; and distribution of antibiotics and vitamins. Additionally, a number of wheelchairs and footballs were distributed to the IDPs.

In his remarks, UNAMID Bangladesh Contingent Commander, Colonel Mezan, said he was touched by the impressive turnout of patients at the medical camp and appealed for similar joint efforts to be held in the future to help local communities who are in desperate need for this kind of support. “This medical Camp Day initiative comes from the Bangladesh Contingent, who felt the need to complement the Government of Sudan efforts in protecting civilians through the delivery of medical services to disadvantaged local communities who do not have access to the basic health services,” Colonel Mezan added.

In his response, the Commander of the West Darfur State Military Hospital, Lt. Col. Abdurrahim Ali, acknowledged UNAMID's efforts in organizing such critical medical services for internally displaced persons. He urged all the Sheikhs in IDP camps across the state to register everyone with chronic diseases in order to provide them with diagnosis and treatment services at El Geneina Hospital. “I appeal to all relevant parties in this joint medical services Camp, to mobilize all medical doctors at the local level to support such medical initiatives to facilitate access to basic health services for the needy,” Lt. Col Ali said.

Mr.Yusuf Abdurrahman, Deputy Sheikh of Sheikhs, El-Sultan IDP camp, commended the joint cooperation and coordination exhibited in the conduct of the free medical campaign, stating that this support has brought a smile to many sick people. He urged organisers to consider the importance of extending such medical support from a single day to at least one week to allow for many more IDPs to access free medical assistance. Mr. Abdurrahman indicated that the most prevalent diseases in the IDP camps are malaria, diarrhea and pain related to bone issues. He further expressed the readiness of the IDPs to support ongoing efforts to organise cleaning campaigns across the IDP camps to combat the spread of potential epidemic diseases.