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In Sudan, traditional medicine is a combination of African, Islamic and Arabic

healing practices like Al Basir and Alfaki. The practitioners relied on herbs and spiritual methods while the practice is passed on to generations.

Facilitators include clairvoyants, herbalists and midwives while diagnosis is made through spiritual means, then treatment is prescribed incorporating symbolic and spiritual significance.

Common diseases include tuberculosis, cancer, malaria and cholera. The ancients’ local materials like boiling oil, some herbs, minerals, mahreeb (Potentilla reptans), beeswax and to make the treatment.

Environmental and health conditions remain a challenge today leading to a high mortality rate.

(Marques,B., Freeman,C. (2023). Adapting Traditional Healing Values and Beliefs into Therapeutic Cultural Environments for Health and Well-being, 4(1),https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1200069)

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For me, the most useful idea was section 1.4 of domain1 that arose from understanding the context of consent seeking.

I have upgraded my knowledge of diverse backgrounds particularly those with rich history of societal norms.

Having learned about Sudanese traditional medicine, I now feel more equipped to deal with diverse people in my clinical placement.

This skill is essential to me in the workplace because it helps me to advocate for patients’ treatment follow up.

Previously, I felt inadequate in knowledge about traditional medicine.

This might be due to lack of understanding families from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

(MIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN’S HEALTH PARTNERSHIP culturaldiversityhealth.org.au)

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Discrimination is a social determinant of health (WHO) may affect migrant communities from Sudan seeking asylum in Australia. However, Western Australian Multicultural Policy Framework ensures that there are targeted CaLD programs and events to support community education.

This includes implementation of substantive equity plan to ensure that everyone can access services that include health care regardless of their origin or skin colour.

Without thanks  WA Multicultural Framework, migrants and refugee communities from Sudan could be at a risk of succumbing to preventable diseases due to lack of awareness on disease preventative measures or shying away from seeking medical services.

(Western Australian Multicultural Policy Framework (WAMPF) DPIRD Multicultural Plan 2021-2026)

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Common health issues that may present with migrant refugees from Sudan across all ages include Intestinal parasites.

Health care professionals should check for eosinophilia through performance of stool microscopy for ova cysts and parasites, followed by directed treatment if symptoms are present and there’s no documentation of pre departure albendazole therapy.

Where there’s no documented pre-departure albendazole therapy, empiric single dose albendazole therapy (age >6 months, weight <10kg; 200mg; ≥10kg; 400mg) is given. However, if eosinophilia is at baseline re-checking in 8 weeks is advisable whereas if eosinophilia is persistent, stool microscopy for OCP is performed.

(Intestinal Parasites » Australian Refugee Health refugeehealthguide.org.au)

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Sudanese’ people are diverse in their religion practices. The Humr Baqqārah and Fur communities abide to Islamic beliefs and practices, which came out of Arab influence besides traditional local practices.

Splashing of sanctuaries with a flour-and-water paste is carried out to ensure fertility in the Fur community. The rain cults were introduced from Sudan west. Sacrifices and offerings are made at shrines ancestral tombs in anticipation of rainy seasons. The rainmaker’s office is hereditary and passed down to generations across different clans.

On the other hand, the Otoro community believe in their local beliefs and normally practice witchcraft

Sudan - Ancient Kingdom, Nubia, Nile Valley | Britannica

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An important form of cultural expression in non-literate groups in Sudan is oral tradition. The linguistic diversity provides a rich varied written and oral literature. Arabic is the language with the most written literature in traditional Sudanese society. Islam is associated with most of Sudanese literary works in Arabic language and its scholarship include a large body of literature describing virtues and lives of ancient holy men. This is taught through recitations on special occasions like anniversaries associated with pious persons. Oral and written literature still proves to be significance in both traditional and Westernized sections of Sudanese society.

(https//:Sudan - Cultural Institutions | Britannica)

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Migrant refugees from Sudan are the fastest growing asylum-seeking community in Australia.

As a result, Australian mental health professionals are always prepared to offer services to this ethnic group along with the other diverse persons.

To offer culturally competent services, mental health professionals must be familiar with this emerging community’s psychosocial background.

There have been reviews undertaken with goals aimed at educating Australian mental health professionals about the demographics and diverse culture of Sudan, the traumas these populations encountered due to civil war, factors leading to massive asylum seekers, and the challenges around the transit and settlement phase.

(Milner., K. & Khawaja, N. (2010). Sudanese refugees in Australia: The impact of acculturation stress. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 4(1), 19-29)

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Betancourt, J. R., Green, A. R., Carrillo, J. Emilio., & Ananeh-Firempong, O. (2003). Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public Health Reports, 118(4), 293–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0033-3549(04)50253-4

Marques,B., Freeman,C. (2023). Adapting Traditional Healing Values and Beliefs into Therapeutic Cultural Environments for Health and Well-being, 4(1),https://doi.org/10.53811/ijtcmr.1200069

Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds competency standards framework for Clinicians January 2019 Western Australian Multicultural Policy Framework (WAMPF) DPIRD Multicultural Plan 2021-2026

Masters, P. J., Lanfranco, P. J., Sneath, E., Wade, A. J., Huffam, S., Pollard, J., Standish, J., McCloskey, K., Athan, E., O’Brien, D. P., & Friedman, N. D. (2018). Health issues of refugees attending an infectious disease refugee health clinic in a regional Australian hospital. Australian Journal of General Practice, 47(5), 305–310. https://doi.org/10.31128/afp-10-17-4355

Milner., K. & Khawaja, N. (2010). Sudanese refugees in Australia: The impact of acculturation stress. Journal of Pacific Rim Psychology, 4(1), 19-29

Schweitzer, R., Melville, F., Steel, Z., & Lacherez, P. (2006). Trauma, Post-Migration Living Difficulties, and Social Support as Predictors of Psychological Adjustment in Resettled Sudanese Refugees. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40(2), 179–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/j.1440-1614.2006.01766.x