Health Services Strained as Kidney Disease Hits Gorom Camp

By Jenifer James

Refugees residing in Gorom Camp are sounding the alarm over a worsening health crisis, particularly among those suffering from kidney disease and other chronic illnesses.

As conditions deteriorate, residents report being left without the vital medical support they urgently need.

The Dawn reporter visited Gorom and conducted exclusive interviews with Sudanese refugees, including Dahab Ahmed Adam, who has kidney disease and arrived at the camp five months ago. He is among those in dire need of specialised care.

Dahab suffers from multiple health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney complications, but claims the camp’s medical centre lacks both the expertise and the medication necessary for proper treatment.

“There is a hospital here, but they don’t have the medication for kidney problems,” Dahab explains. “I need a transfer to a facility where I can receive a proper check-up and the right treatment. Without it, my condition is only getting worse.”

Previously, Dahab spent three months in hospital in Malakal due to a severe leg wound, but since arriving in Gorom, he has received little more than basic care. “Doctors here treat diabetes like it’s malaria,” he says, frustration creeping into his voice. “There is no specialised care. And for my kidney issues, I’ve never even started treatment; I simply can’t afford it.”

He is not alone. Sharif Abdullah, another resident in the camp, has been enduring persistent kidney-related pain for several months. Despite an earlier diagnosis, he says the local clinic continues to dismiss his complaints.

“I feel pain every day, and I can’t sleep at night,” Sharif states. “They keep telling me it’s just an infection, but I’ve had an X-ray before, and the doctor confirmed it was kidney disease. All they give me here is painkillers, and they don’t help.”

Refugees report that transfers to better-equipped hospitals in Juba or elsewhere have been suspended, leaving many with serious medical conditions stranded. They say this suspension has had devastating effects.

“We are asking the government and aid organisations to come and assess our health,” pleads Dahab. “There are many people here who are suffering silently.”

Sharif adds, “We are tired of the pain. We just want to be treated like human beings — to be seen, to be cared for.”

As the population of Gorom Camp continues to swell, refugees warn that the healthcare system is buckling under pressure. Without urgent intervention, those living with chronic illnesses fear they may not survive.

“We didn’t come here to die slowly,” he  asserts. “We came here for safety. But safety includes healthcare too.”

According to the National Institute of Health, kidney disease is primarily caused by conditions that damage the kidneys over time, with diabetes and high blood pressure being the most common culprits. Other factors include genetic conditions like polycystic kidney disease, infections, and long-term use of certain medications.