DRC

Mail and Guardian: Malaria drug breakthrough

About 200 000 deaths from malaria each year could be averted if African governments follow new World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, soon to be released, and switch from the far less effective medication quinine to artesunate, according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Democratic Republic of Congo

International Activity Report, 2009 In 2009 the people in eastern Congo suffered continuous violence from different armed groups. Hundreds were killed, thousands raped and hundreds of thousands fled their homes. MSF provided medical assistance by running hospitals, mobile clinics, vaccination campaigns and cholera programmes and treating victims of sexual violence. In January 2009, Congolese and Rwandan armies launched military operations against the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) rebels. This offensive led to a mass displacement of people and many villages were attacked, looted and burned. Throughout February and March some 100,000 displaced people arrived in the Kayna area and Lubero town...

Inner City Gazette: Expo on plight of migrants

10 May 2012

Solidarity for Survival, migrants, refugees, expo, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Congo, MSF

Suitcase display at MSF's Solidarity for Survival exhibition. Photo: MSF

Exhibition inspires action to aid vulnerable migrants. Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) South Africa opened a dynamic and thought provoking exhibition titled Solidarity for Survival. In a press statement MSF says the exhibition brings attention on the plight of thousands of people who survive displacement and migration; and come to South Africa in the face of discrimination and healthcare exclusion... Read full article below.

New Global Vaccine Strategy Glosses Over Basic Immunisation Gaps

15 May 2012

Afghanistan: A young child receives a vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio

A new, ten-year, multi-billion dollar action plan for global vaccination may fail to deliver if it does not directly address the weaknesses in routine immunisation programmes. Nineteen million children are being missed each year and this challenge must be explicitly addressed, the medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said today. Afghanistan: A young child receives a vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio. Photo: Ton Kuene A ‘Global Vaccines Action Plan’ has been designed to implement the ‘Decade of Vaccines’ project and will be considered by Health Ministers gathering next week in...

Despite growing complexity, MSF continues to provide healthcare in North Kivu, DRC

07 May 2012

An MSF staff member examines a young patient in Birambizo Health Zone in North Kivu.

Despite the growing complexity of an already unstable situation in North Kivu, DRC, MSF continues to provide primary and secondary healthcare to the population, supporting 4 reference hospitals, 12 health centers, 4 health posts, several cholera treatment centers (CTC), weekly mobile clinics, and emergency response activities as required. An MSF staff member examines a young patient in Birambizo Health Zone in North Kivu. Photo: Emily Lynch/MSF The increase in the conflict between armed groups since early April has led to population displacement, trauma wounds, and greater morbidity and mortality from certain illnesses for the populations affected by this...

DRC: Massive Surge in Malaria Needs Urgent Response

24 April 2012

Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) health workers are seeing a 250% increase in the number of patients with malaria over the last three years in Democratic Republic of Congo. MSF teams are currently responding to outbreaks of the disease in six provinces.

Malaria Drug Resistance and High Infection Rates a Potential Time Bomb

24 April 2012

On 25th of April, the annual World Malaria Day, many health organisations will highlight important gains in fighting this deadly disease that claims more than one million lives every year. But despite notable progress in terms of innovation and investment, MSF continues to see continuously high rates of malaria in several African countries. In DRC, MSF has observed infection rates above emergency thresholds in several provinces over the last six months, which can be attributed to a dysfunctional surveillance system, failure of the health system to respond to elevated levels of malaria, poor organisation and lack of diagnostic testing and drugs. Equally worrying are the continuing reports of emerging cases of drug resistant malaria in...

Massive Malaria Surge in DR Congo Requires Urgent Response

25 April 2012

Triple-fold Increase in Cases Since 2009 A massive increase in malaria cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is overwhelming existing treatment capacity, demanding a comprehensive and stepped-up response, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said today. DRC. Photo: Sandra Smiley/MSF MSF’s health centres and hospitals have observed a marked increase in malaria cases, including in its severe form. In six provinces (half of the vast country), the number of people treated for malaria in MSF projects has increased 250 percent since 2009, with the rise even more sharp in recent months....

A Month in Focus - April 2012

11 April 2012

DRC, Chad, Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Haiti

DR Congo – An alarming surge in malaria Chad – On the brink of a peak in malnutrition Paraguay – The scourge of the vinchuca Uzbekistan – Tuberculose shows resistance Haiti – Medical certificates for cholera patients

“No Way In Means No Way Out”: South African Immigration Policy entraps Asylum Seekers in Catch-22 situation

01 February 2012

Congolese men rest in the heat of the afternoon in the Men Shelter in the township. The shelter is taken care of by " I believe in Jesus Christ" Church. Musina, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Johannesburg/Musina - Thousands of asylum seekers fleeing instability and persecution run the risk of deportation at one of South Africa’s busiest border regions as immigration authorities make it impossible to apply for asylum, contravening national and international Refugee Law and showing blatant disregard for the humanitarian and medical consequences, warns Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The international medical humanitarian organisation, which treats vulnerable migrants in its medical projects in and around Musina and Johannesburg, calls upon the South African Government to respect its obligations for the protection of asylum seekers and refugees coming to its borders...

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