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

South Sudan

Activity Update June 2015

MSF is particularly concerned about the effects of fighting in Upper Nile State. Humanitarian needs are growing, but aid organisations are finding it increasingly difficult to access the most severely affected areas, such as Wau Shilluk and Noon. Insecurity has also restricted MSF’s work in Malakal and Melut through June and July. Crisis Update - 31 Jul 2015

Tanzania

130,000 refugees vaccinated against cholera in the overcrowded Nyarugusu camp

A cholera vaccination campaign to protect Burundian and Congolese refugees in the overflowing Nyarugusu camp in Tanzania has been completed this week. However, with people still living in very precarious conditions, there is a parallel urgent need to improve the sanitary situation in the camp. Press Release - 30 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

Democratic Republic of Congo

The Rose of Masisi

A counselor at the Village d’Accueil gives us a tour of the MSF-supported Masisi general hospital in North Kivu, where women with high-risk pregnancies stay as they wait to give birth. Project Update - 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

Mali

MSF continues its activities in Timbuktu despite insecurity

Since 2014, deteriorating security, explosive devices on roads and the risk of carjacking have forced MSF to reduce its activities in Timbuktu. In spite of all this, MSF continues to fully support three community health centres on the outskirts of Timbuktu with primary, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, immunisation and nutrition programmes. Project Update - 24 Jul 2015

South Sudan

MSF calls for urgent humanitarian access to Upper Nile state

“The continuing violence in South Sudan is forcing ordinary people to live in inhumane conditions,” says William Robertson, MSF’s program manager for South Sudan. “People are being exposed to continual violence, increased displacement, fear of attacks, disease outbreaks and the risk of starvation. MSF is deeply concerned about the continued denial of access for aid organisations to conflict areas and other remote areas of South Sudan, which is leaving people without the humanitarian assistance they urgently need.” Press Release - 23 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

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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