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Noma surgical intervention Oct/Nov 2023

Surgery & trauma care

During two weeks between October and November 2023, a total of 32 reconstructive surgeries were carried out for noma patients by a team of highly trained Nigerian, American and Japanese surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. Sokoto, Nigeria, October 2023.
© Alexandre Marcou/MSF
Médecins Sans Frontières has been providing surgical care for people in precarious contexts for more than 40 years.

Surgery in a humanitarian situation is often associated with armed conflict. Yet our teams conduct operations for a variety of needs. In 2023, nearly one in four of the major surgeries we performed were caesarean sections, which is difficult to access in countries with a failing health system or in humanitarian emergencies. The opening of a surgical programme has a number of prerequisites which need medical and logistics resources, such as sterile conditions, qualified personnel, and post-operative capacity.

Quick facts about surgery and trauma care

 
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MSF Field Research

We produce important research based on our field experience. So far, we have published articles in over 100 peer-reviewed journals. These articles have often changed clinical practice and have been used for humanitarian advocacy. All of these articles can be found on our dedicated Field Research website.

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