Khartoum, Sudan – Omar Othman, a gold miner in northern Sudan’s Abu Hamad town, had hoped for a fresh start to life in the capital – only for those hopes to be cut short by illness.For months, he had worked deep in the gold mines under harsh conditions, which badly affected his health. At first, the symptoms seemed minor: a cough that lingered for weeks went largely unnoticed.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listBut after arriving in Khartoum, it developed into a sharp chest pain that forced him to seek medical attention. He was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, one of several infectious diseases spreading in Sudan, where a three-year war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has collapsed the African country’s health system.At the Tropical Diseases Teaching Hospital in Omdurman, Sudan’s second largest city west of Khartoum, laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis. The hospital offers treatment for infectious diseases and psychological counselling to patients [Al Jazeera]Othman told Al Jazeera that although the result left him anxious, counselling sessions and a clear explanation of the treatment plan helped ease his fears and allowed him to come to terms with his condition.But his treatment was only the beginning, with many obstacles still ahead.Shortage of suppliesDuring his first visit to hospital, Othman said he faced no difficulties. He paid a small fee for the tests and received treatment free of charge.But on his second visit, essential medication was no longer available, forcing him to …
