Health risks increasing for people in Bentiu Protection of Civilian Camp

“The current situation is precarious, with new arrivals coming every day to the UN Protection of Civilians camp in Bentiu in search of shelter and protection. The upsurge of fighting in Unity state since April has forced many from their homes and an estimated 110,000 displaced people are now living here. That’s more than double the number of people here a few months ago and it feels more like a city than a camp," says Dr Ruby Siddiqui, MSF's epidemiologist. "There is a real risk of an outbreak of hepatitis E virus. Although there have been sporadic cases of hepatitis E virus detected since October 2014, over the last six weeks there appears to have been a consistent and significant increase in people with jaundice (signs of liver inflammation) who have later tested positive for hepatitis E by rapid diagnostic testing. Currently MSF is seeing a high hospitalisation ratio (37.0%) and a high case fatality ratio (4.0%)." Voices from the Field - 3 Aug 2015

Haemorrhagic fevers

Getting closer to an Ebola vaccine

"The current data basically tells us that the vaccine works to protect people against Ebola. Even if the sample size is quite small and more research and analysis is needed, the enormity of the public health emergency should lead us to continue using this vaccine right now to protect those who might get exposed to the disease: contacts of infected patients and frontline workers," says Bertrand Draguez, MSF Medical Director. " But it is also of crucial importance to keep working on all the pillars of an Ebola response including contact tracing, health promotion and isolation of infected patients." Voices from the Field - 31 Jul 2015

Mexico

Acapulco's population is exposed to violence on a daily basis

“The population is exposed to violence on a daily basis” says María Simón, coordinator of the MSF project in Acapulco. "The challenges we face are many, but without a doubt the main ones are to finish establishing a strong community strategy based on acceptance that allows us to continue to get closer to the population and to develop security strategies that are adapted to contexts of urban violence which are not comparable to those MSF normally faces in armed conflict scenarios."
Voices from the Field - 29 Jul 2015

Kenya

The cholera test and why the Kenyan health system has failed

"Over 128 and 30 suspected new cases of cholera have been reported in Migori and Kisumu counties respectively in the past one week. This is amidst a number of political declarations across many counties that the cholera outbreak is over. To me this is one of the strongest attestations to the lack of clear coordination in outbreak response within the devolved framework. If such an approach is aimed at downplaying the outbreak in order to save face then it is a recipe for disaster and the short rains expected in September are only likely to make things worse," says Dr Stephen Wanjala, Deputy Medical Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières in Kenya. Voices from the Field - 27 Jul 2015

Malawi

Detained for having a dream

Built to accommodate 800 prisoners, Maula prison is bursting at the seams with 2,650 inmates. Amongst this desperate population, the most vulnerable are the nearly 300 undocumented migrants who were arrested as they travelled towards South Africa. Voices from the Field - 24 Jul 2015

Nigeria

“Our team is working all the time, because IDPs arrive every week.”

“None of the hospitals outside of Maiduguri and Biu are currently functioning. And most of them were completely destroyed with bombs. Those that weren’t destroyed were looted,” says Dr. Faisal Ga'al, MSF project coordinator in Maiduguri. “This is now the first stage of the crisis in Borno state, but the gaps will be huge when people start going back to their homes. They will need emergency support for some time. They are going back to zero – there is no means for people to make a living in the area.” Voices from the Field - 23 Jul 2015

Ethiopia

A tale of a desperate midwife

“Had these mothers arrived in good time, we would have saved their lives and their children’s. I feel very sad to see women die from avoidable conditions just because of lack of awareness,” said Aisha Akello, MSF midwife. “It’s heart-breaking, and sometimes I stay up at night, just contemplating what has happened and pondering ways to find a solution to prevent these avoidable maternal deaths.” Voices from the Field - 23 Jul 2015

South Sudan

Patient tells of cholera recovery at new MSF Cholera Treatment Centre in Juba

“I’m happy because of the care and treatment I received here. I’m now feeling better, not like when I arrived. I would like to tell people suffering from cholera that there is an MSF centre in Munuki which provides care, support and food.” says Madeleine, one of the first patients admitted to MSF's newly built Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) in Munuki, Juba. Voices from the Field - 22 Jul 2015

Greece

Testimonies from migrants and asylum seekers in Lesbos

Thousands of migrants and asylum seekers are currently stranded in precarious conditions across several Greek islands, despite repeated calls since December 2014 by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to Greek authorities and the EU to address the lack of reception capacity. Voices from the Field - 20 Jul 2015

Women's health

Q&A on consequences of unsafe abortion

Does MSF provide birth control and abortions as part of your programs? What are your criteria? What is your position on abortions? Voices from the Field - 14 Jul 2015

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

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We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence and impartiality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

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