Sudanese Doctors Appeal to Rebuild Mycetoma Research Centre Amidst War

The Impact of War on Scientific Progress in Sudan

• 🌍 Sudan, Africa's third-largest country, is suffering from a civil war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, creating a severe humanitarian crisis.
• 🔬 Scientific progress has been a casualty, with over 100 universities and research centers damaged or looted, including the world's only Mycetoma Research Centre (MRC).

Understanding Mycetoma Disease

• 💡 Mycetoma is a rare, inflammatory disease caused by fungi or bacteria, often contracted through thorns of the acacia shrub, primarily affecting the poorest populations working in fields without shoes.
• ⚠️ If left untreated, mycetoma can lead to severe deformities, permanent disabilities, and tumor-like growths.

Destruction of the Mycetoma Research Centre

• 💔 The MRC in Khartoum, established over 40 years ago, was partially destroyed during the conflict.
• 🧬 The center housed a unique bio-bank with rare fungus and bacteria microorganisms, over 400 samples and biopsies for genetic research, and vital equipment like ultrasound machines and a pharmacy.
• 🆓 All treatments and medications were provided free of charge to patients who could not afford them elsewhere.

Efforts to Preserve Research and Data

• 🏃‍♀️ The MRC team attempted to move critical assets to safer locations as fighting advanced, but much was lost.
• 📂 The only preserved element of the center's work is the electronic patient file database, containing records of thousands of patients.

A Call for International Assistance

• 🆘 The director of the MRC, Professor Ahmed Hassan Fahal, is issuing an urgent call for help from the international community, scientists worldwide, pharmaceutical labs, and international organizations.
• 💰 Pharmaceutical companies show little interest in developing new drugs for mycetoma due to its rarity and the low revenue potential, as it primarily affects impoverished populations.
• 🤝 The center's destruction has also led to the vanishing of various cooperation and partnership deals, highlighting the urgent need for rebuilding.