Sudanese Minister of Health, Prof. Hesham Ibrahim, emphasized the importance of the Malaria Research Center in Al-Qadarif, describing it as a historical beacon for tropical medicine and scientific research. Established in 1963 near the Blue Nile in Sennar, the center hosts specialized laboratories in parasitology, insectaries, and molecular biology. Ibrahim highlighted the center’s role in training hundreds of specialists, noting that its graduates possess high expertise in detecting malaria parasites, often surpassing the competence of standard academic degrees.
Despite the deterioration observed in the facility during recent years due to the conflict, the minister announced a decision to restore the center’s historical prominence. He stated that the center will be rehabilitated to serve as a reference point for tropical medicine research not only in Sudan but across Africa and the world. Ibrahim emphasized that malaria remains a priority in the national health strategy, pointing to the successful introduction of the first malaria vaccine for children in November 2024. He expressed optimism that the center will eventually return to its former glory, aiming to eliminate malaria and shift the country’s focus from health crises to development and food security.
