23 September 2013 - The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has funded through the Mission’s quick-impact project program (QIP) a series of projects designed to improve the South Darfur state's health care facilities.

The projects, implemented on the Mission's behalf by the Mubadiroon Organization for Prevention of Disaster and War Impact, included the renovation and equipment of the blood bank and women isolation ward at Nyala Teaching Hospital; the provision of furniture for the State health coordination Office in Nyala; and the construction of Voluntary Counseling and Testing centers for HIV/AIDS in the localities of Buram, Kubum, Rehed El Birdi and Nyala.

During a hand-over ceremony on 19 September, the UNAMID Head of Office, Imtiaz Hussain, described the Mission’s cooperation with the South Darfur ministry of health as one of the cornerstones of collaboration between the people of the state and the Mission aimed at bringing positive change to the lives of ordinary people.

Mr. Hussain spoke highly about the efforts of the ministry to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and thanked the employees of Nyala Teaching Hospital and other medical facilities across Darfur for their commitment to their work.

The ministry's coordinator of organizations, Dr. Mohammed Ali Sharif, appreciated the projects funded by UNAMID. “We are really pleased with the level of coordination and support of UNAMID and we are looking forward to further assistance in other areas,” he said.