• Urgent need; over 160 chronic kidney patients in Dongola lack AV fistulas, relying on high-risk catheters.
• One-month pilot delivering 60 free AV fistula surgeries at Dongola Teaching Hospital.
• Hands-on training for 12 surgical residents and 12 dialysis nurses.
• Community awareness campaign to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Establishing a local AV Fistula Lab will:
• Reduce complications and travel burdens.
• Provide immediate surgeries and build long-term capacity.
• Align with Sudan’s national dialysis priorities.

The SAFE Program serves two primary audiences:
1. Hemodialysis Patients in Northern State
• Over 160 chronic kidney disease patients in Dongola are reliant on temporary catheters
• Residents of seven localities served by 14 dialysis centres
• Vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons, to ensure equitable access to AV fistula services
2. Healthcare Professionals in Dongola
• Twelve surgical residents and twelve dialysis nurses at Dongola Teaching Hospital and Dongola Dialysis Centre
• Future local trainers identified through the “Train-the-Trainer” model
• Hospital administrators, quality-improvement champions, and policymakers who support service integration and scale-up

Program phases: Program Phases

Preparation

• Stakeholder engagement with the Ministry, hospital teams, and nephrology units
• Baseline needs assessment (patient access, travel burden, training gaps, equipment)
• Finalise standardised curriculum (KDOQI–aligned) and M&E tools

Build-out

• Procure and install AV Fistula Lab equipment and establish SOPs
• Develop community awareness materials (brochures, posters, videos)
• Finalise monitoring schedules and pre-/post-training assessments

Kick-off

• Deliver 3-day hands-on workshops for surgical residents and dialysis nurses
• Launch “A Lifeline” social-media and TV campaigns
• Host patient Q&A sessions on Northern State TV

Implementation

• Supervised “Train-the-Trainer” mentorship with visiting experts
• Perform 60 pro bono AV fistula surgeries
• Establish a follow-up system for postoperative care and complication monitoring

Sustainability

• Convene advocacy panels with health authorities and policymakers
• Develop policy briefs and integrate AV fistula services into the state health strategy.
• Hand over lab SOPs and equipment to Dongola Teaching Hospital.
• Embed training into hospital CPD calendar and secure recurrent funding.