The horrific killing of more than 460 patients and their companions at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, is a shocking reminder of the growing disregard for international humanitarian law and human life. Hospitals must be sanctuaries of safety, compassion, and healing — not battlefields of death and destruction. This deliberate attack on a health facility is an unforgivable violation of human rights and medical neutrality, and it represents a moral collapse that the world must not tolerate.
Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) condemns this atrocity in the strongest possible terms and calls for an immediate, unconditional end to all attacks on health care workers, facilities, and patients everywhere.
Health systems are lifelines for humanity, especially in conflict zones where women, children, and the vulnerable depend on them for survival. Destroying them only deepens suffering, fuels instability, and erodes the foundations of peace.
We urge the international community, the United Nations, and all parties to conflict to uphold the Geneva Conventions, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and reinforce protection for medical services. Health care is not a target. Every life lost in such attacks is a stain on our shared humanity—and this must end now.
*Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje.*
CEO and Permanent Representative to the United Nations,
*Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA)* - *CSOs Global Network and
Think-tank for Health, Climate Actions and Development (Winner of the SDG 3
– Good Health and Wellbeing Champion Award). *
https://afrihealthcsos.blogspot.com/2024/03/about-afrihealth-optonet-ass...
National Coordinator,
*Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria
(CSP-SDGs Nigeria)*
HIFA profile: Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a leading voice in health education, community health, and advocacy, with decades of experience advancing people-centered development across Africa and beyond. His approach to health education emphasizes participatory learning, knowledge transfer, and behavior change communication, ensuring that individuals and communities gain the skills and awareness to make informed decisions about their health. He develops and delivers innovative health promotion strategies tailored to local realities, particularly in resource-limited settings. In community health, Dr. Adirieje has championed integrated primary health care, preventive medicine, and grassroots health initiatives. Through Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), which he leads, he connects civil society, community groups, and health institutions to strengthen healthcare delivery, tackle health inequities, and improve access to essential services for vulnerable populations. His work addresses infectious diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, climate and health, environmental health, and emerging public health challenges. As a passionate advocate, Dr. Adirieje works with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to influence health policy, mobilize resources, and promote sustainable development goals (SDGs). He amplifies community voices, ensuring that health systems are inclusive, accountable, and responsive. His advocacy extends beyond health to governance, environment, and social justice, positioning him as a multidisciplinary leader shaping healthier and more equitable societies. afrepton AT gmail.com