Editing Médecins Sans Frontières (section)

===Sub-Saharan Africa===
{{further|AIDS in Africa}}
[[File:MSF front door in Chad.jpg|thumb|An MSF outpost in [[War in Darfur|Darfur]] (2005)]]

MSF has been active in a large number of African countries for decades, sometimes serving as the sole provider of health care, food, and water. Although MSF has consistently attempted to increase media coverage of the situation in Africa to increase international support, long-term field missions are still necessary. Treating and educating the public about [[HIV/AIDS]] in [[sub-Saharan Africa]], which sees the most deaths and cases of the disease in the world,<ref name="whoaids">{{cite report |work=unaids.org |date=December 2004 |url=http://www.unaids.org/wad2004/EPIupdate2004_html_en/Epi04_03_en.htm |chapter=Introduction |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060110204222/http://www.unaids.org/wad2004/EPIupdate2004_html_en/Epi04_03_en.htm |archive-date=10 January 2006 |title=AIDS epidemic update: December 2004 |access-date=12 January 2006 }}</ref> is a major task for volunteers. Of the 14.6&nbsp;million people in need of anti-retroviral treatment the WHO estimated that only 5.25&nbsp;million people were receiving it in developing countries, and MSF continues to urge governments and companies to increase research and development into HIV/AIDS treatments to decrease cost and increase availability.<ref>{{cite web |work=WHO |year=2010 |url=http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/treatment/en/index.html |title=Antiretroviral therapy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910095036/http://www.who.int/hiv/topics/treatment/en/index.html |access-date=15 January 2006 |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref>

====Sierra Leone====
In the late 1990s, MSF missions were set up to treat tuberculosis and [[anemia|anaemia]] in residents of the [[Aral Sea]] area, and look after civilians affected by drug-resistant disease, famine, and epidemics of cholera and AIDS.<ref>MSF Article (1998) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=B82400AA-3B73-496F-9D84F6A326006642&method=full_html MSF 1998] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222618/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=B82400AA-3B73-496F-9D84F6A326006642&method=full_html|date=27 September 2007}} MSF. Retrieved 16 January 2006.</ref> They vaccinated 3 million Nigerians against [[meningitis]] during an epidemic in 1996<ref>MSF Article (2000) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=71282BBA-EC70-11D4-B2010060084A6370&method=full_html Preventing meningitis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020359/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=71282BBA-EC70-11D4-B2010060084A6370&method=full_html|date=30 September 2007}} MSF. Retrieved 16 January 2006.</ref> and denounced the [[Taliban treatment of women|Taliban's neglect of health care for women]] in 1997.<ref>MSF Article (1998) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=pressrelease&objectid=71283479-EC70-11D4-B2010060084A6370&method=full_html MSF and other aid organisations evicted from Kabul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222453/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=pressrelease&objectid=71283479-EC70-11D4-B2010060084A6370&method=full_html|date=27 September 2007}} MSF. Retrieved 16 January 2006.</ref> Arguably, the most significant country in which MSF set up field missions in the late 1990s was Sierra Leone, which was involved in a [[Sierra Leone Civil War|civil war]] at the time. In 1998, volunteers began assisting in surgeries in [[Freetown]] to help with an increasing number of [[Amputation|amputees]], and collecting statistics on civilians (men, women and children) being attacked by large groups of men claiming to represent [[ECOMOG]]. The groups of men were travelling between villages and systematically chopping off one or both of each resident's arms, raping women, gunning down families, razing houses, and forcing survivors to leave the area.<ref>MSF Article (1998) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=8127EF92-B5A9-11D4-B1FA0060084A6370&method=full_html Attacks as told by victims] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020517/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=8127EF92-B5A9-11D4-B1FA0060084A6370&method=full_html|date=30 September 2007}} MSF. Retrieved 16 January 2006.</ref> Long-term projects following the end of the civil war included psychological support and [[phantom limb]] pain management.<ref>MSF Article (2001) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=EC4F5038-C637-4724-87A848DAD8314054&method=full_html Controlling phantom limb pain in Sierra Leone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222513/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=EC4F5038-C637-4724-87A848DAD8314054&method=full_html|date=27 September 2007}} MSF. Retrieved 16 January 2006.</ref>

==== Sudan ====
Since 1979, MSF has been providing medical humanitarian assistance in [[Sudan]], a nation plagued by starvation and the [[Second Sudanese Civil War|civil war]], prevalent malnutrition and one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. In March 2009, it is reported that MSF has employed 4,590 field staff in Sudan<ref name="sudantest">MSF Article (2009) [http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/country.cfm?id=2369%20MSF -MSF in Sudan – Test] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511060824/http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/country.cfm?id=2369%20MSF|date=11 May 2013}} MSF. Retrieved 20 September 2011</ref> tackling issues such as armed conflicts, epidemic diseases, health care and social exclusion. MSF's continued presence and work in [[Sudan]] is one of the organisation's largest interventions. MSF provides a range of health care services including nutritional support, reproductive healthcare, Kala-Azar treatment, counselling services and surgery to the people living in [[Sudan]].<ref>MSF Article (2010) [http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4922&cat=field-news – Sudan: An Overview of MSF's Work in 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027114415/http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4922&cat=field-news|date=27 October 2011}} MSF. Retrieved 20 September 2011.</ref> Common diseases prevalent in [[Sudan]] include [[tuberculosis]], [[kala-azar]] also known as [[visceral leishmaniasis]], [[meningitis]], [[measles]], [[cholera]], and [[malaria]].

=====Kala-Azar in Sudan=====
[[Kala-azar]], also known as [[visceral leishmaniasis]], has been one of the major health problems in [[Sudan]]. After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between North and [[South Sudan|Southern Sudan]] on 9 January 2005, the increase in stability within the region helped further efforts in healthcare delivery. Médicins Sans Frontières tested a combination of sodium stibogluconate and paromomycin, which would reduce treatment duration (from 30 to 17 days) and cost in 2008.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kolaczinski|first1=Jan H.|last2=Hope|first2=Andrew|last3=Ruiz|first3=Jose Antonio|last4=Rumunu|first4=John|last5=Richer|first5=Michaleen|last6=Seaman|first6=Jill|year=2008|title=Kala-azar Epidemiology and Control, Southern Sudan|journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases|publisher=Centers for Disease Control|volume=14|issue=4|pages=664–666|doi=10.3201/eid1404.071099|pmc=2570907|pmid=18394290}}</ref> In March 2010, MSF set up its first Kala-Azar treatment centre in Eastern Sudan, providing free treatment for this otherwise deadly disease. If left untreated, there is a fatality rate of 99% within 1–4 months of infection.<ref>MSF Press release (2010) [http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=4924&cat=press-release – Southern Sudan in Grips of Worst Disease Outbreak in Eight Years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129011901/http://doctorswithoutborders.org/press/release.cfm?id=4924&cat=press-release|date=29 November 2011}} MSF. Retrieved 20 September 2011</ref> Since the treatment centre was set up, MSF has cured more than 27,000 Kala-Azar patients with a success rate of approximately 90–95%.<ref>MSF Article (2010) [http://southsudan.msf.org.au/#KALA%20AZAR – Médecins Sans Frontières South Sudan] MSF. Retrieved 20 September 2011</ref> There are plans to open an additional Kala-Azar treatment centre in [[Malakal]], Southern Sudan, to cope with the overwhelming number of patients that are seeking treatment. MSF has been providing necessary medical supplies to hospitals and training Sudanese health professionals to help them deal with Kala-Azar.<ref>MSF Article (2010) [http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4832&cat=field-news – Sudan: MSF to Open Additional Kala Azar Treatment Site in Upper Nile State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027114020/http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4832&cat=field-news|date=27 October 2011}} MSF. Retrieved 20 September 2011</ref> MSF, Sudanese Ministry of Health and other national and international institutions are combining efforts to improve on the treatment and diagnosis of Kala-Azar.<ref name="open">MSF Article (2010) [http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4367&cat=field-news -Sudan: MSF Opens a Kala Azar Treatment Center in Eastern Atbara Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026074825/http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4367&cat=field-news|date=26 October 2011}} MSF. Retrieved 20 September 2011</ref> Research on its cures and vaccines are currently being conducted.<ref name="open" /> In December 2010, South Sudan was hit with the worst outbreak of Kala-Azar in eight years.<ref name="sudantest" /> The number of patients seeking treatment increased eight-fold as compared to the year before.<ref name="sudantest" />

=====Health care infrastructure in Sudan=====
Sudan's latest civil war began in 1983 and ended in 2005 when a peace agreement was signed between [[North Sudan]] and [[South Sudan]].<ref name="sudantest" /> MSF medical teams were active throughout and prior to the civil war, providing emergency medical humanitarian assistance in multiple locations.<ref name="sudantest" /> The situation of poor infrastructure in the South was aggravated by the civil war and resulted in the worsening of the region's appalling health indicators. An estimated 75 percent of people in the nascent nation has no access to basic medical care and 1 in seven women dies during childbirth.<ref name="sudantest" /> [[Malnutrition]] and disease outbreaks are perennial concerns as well. In 2011, MSF clinic in [[Jonglei State]], South Sudan, was looted and attacked by raiders.<ref name="attack">MSF Article (2011) [http://www.msf.org.za/publication/msf-condemns-large-scale-attacks-civilians-south-sudan -MSF condemns large-scale attacks on civilians in South Sudan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130182511/http://www.msf.org.za/publication/msf-condemns-large-scale-attacks-civilians-south-sudan|date=30 January 2012}} MSF. Retrieved 20 September 2011</ref> Hundreds, including women and children were killed. Valuable items including medical equipment and drugs were lost during the raid and parts of the MSF facilities were destroyed in a fire.<ref name="attack" /> The incident had serious repercussions as MSF is the only primary health care provider in this part of Jonglei State.<ref name="attack" />

====Democratic Republic of the Congo====
Although active in the Congo region of Africa since 1985, the [[First Congo War|First]] and [[Second Congo War]] brought increased violence and instability to the area. MSF has had to evacuate its teams from areas such as around [[Bunia]], in the [[Ituri district]] due to extreme violence,<ref>MSF Article (2005) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=7BC39654-E018-0C72-09E7DF9CC8A2E42A&component=toolkit.report&method=full_html Nothing new in Ituri: The violence continues] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216120244/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=7BC39654-E018-0C72-09E7DF9CC8A2E42A&component=toolkit.report&method=full_html |date=16 February 2006 }} MSF. Retrieved 15 January 2006.</ref> but continues to work in other areas to provide food to tens of thousands of displaced civilians, as well as treat survivors of mass rapes and widespread fighting.<ref>MSF Article (2004) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=69A5156A-AD93-4426-9FE16133411EBD40&method=full_html The tragedy of the other Congo – A forgotten war's victims] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222625/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=69A5156A-AD93-4426-9FE16133411EBD40&method=full_html |date=27 September 2007 }} MSF. Retrieved 12 January 2006.</ref> The treatment and possible vaccination against diseases such as [[cholera]], [[measles]], [[polio]], [[Marburg fever]], [[African trypanosomiasis|sleeping sickness]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Rapid Cure Approved for Sleeping Sickness, a Horrific Illness |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/health/sleeping-sickness-africa-cure.html |access-date=17 November 2018 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=16 November 2018|last1=McNeil |first1=Donald G. Jr. }}</ref> [[HIV/AIDS]], and [[bubonic plague]] is also important to prevent or slow down epidemics.<ref>MSF Article (2000) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=6589C283-DC2C-11D4-B2010060084A6370&method=full_html Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Complex emergency, human catastrophe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222240/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=6589C283-DC2C-11D4-B2010060084A6370&method=full_html |date=27 September 2007 }} '''WHO'''. Retrieved 21 November 2010.</ref>

==== Uganda ====
MSF has been active in Uganda since 1980, and provided relief to civilians during the country's guerrilla war during the [[Uganda since 1979#The Second Obote Period: 1981-1985|Second Obote Period]]. However, the formation of the [[Lord's Resistance Army]] saw the beginning of a long campaign of violence in northern Uganda and southern Sudan. Civilians were subjected to mass killings and rapes, torture, and abductions of children, who would later serve as sex slaves or [[child soldier]]s. Faced with more than 1.5&nbsp;million people displaced from their homes, MSF set up relief programmes in [[internally displaced person]] (IDP) camps to provide clean water, food and sanitation. Diseases such as [[tuberculosis]], measles, polio, cholera, [[ebola]], and HIV/AIDS occur in epidemics in the country, and volunteers provide vaccinations (in the cases of measles and polio) and/or treatment to the residents. Mental health is also an important aspect of medical treatment for MSF teams in Uganda since most people refuse to leave the IDP camps for constant fear of being attacked.<ref>MSF Article (2005) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=F7756E35-E018-0C72-098A5AC4856E0887&component=toolkit.article&method=full_html Uganda: A neglected emergency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208162648/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=F7756E35-E018-0C72-098A5AC4856E0887&component=toolkit.article&method=full_html |date=8 February 2007 }} MSF. Retrieved 12 January 2006.</ref><ref>MSF Article (2004) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=3C0DC992-FD80-47E5-89CD50ACC5E9F57A&method=full_html Uganda: Aiding civilians targeted by war] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015603/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=3C0DC992-FD80-47E5-89CD50ACC5E9F57A&method=full_html |date=30 September 2007 }} MSF. Retrieved 12 January 2006.</ref>

==== Ivory Coast ====
MSF first camp set up a field mission in Côte d'Ivoire in 1990, but ongoing violence and the [[History of Côte d'Ivoire|2002 division]] of the country by rebel groups and the government led to several massacres, and MSF teams have even begun to suspect that an ethnic cleansing is occurring.<ref name="ivory coast"/> Mass measles vaccinations,<ref>MSF Article (2003) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=1D2BE183-8564-4347-9AB4EB7E97E9A6A3&method=full_html MSF vaccinates thousands against measles in Ivory Coast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222424/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?component=article&objectid=1D2BE183-8564-4347-9AB4EB7E97E9A6A3&method=full_html |date=27 September 2007 }} MSF. Retrieved 15 January 2006.</ref> tuberculosis treatment and the re-opening of hospitals closed by fighting are projects run by MSF, which is the only group providing aid in much of the country.<ref name="ivory coast">MSF Article (2005) [http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=F7B85F1B-E018-0C72-09457C0EA59A71D6&component=toolkit.article&method=full_html Côte d'Ivoire: Renewed violence deepens crisis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208162224/http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=F7B85F1B-E018-0C72-09457C0EA59A71D6&component=toolkit.article&method=full_html |date=8 February 2007 }} Retrieved 21 January 2006.</ref>

MSF has strongly promoted the use of [[contraception]] in Africa.

===== West African Ebola outbreak =====
[[File:Preparing to enter Ebola treatment unit (3).jpg|thumb|MSF staff member adjusts Dr. Joel Montgomery, Team Lead for CDC's Ebola Response Team in Liberia, goggles before Montgomery enters the Ebola treatment unit (ETU), ELWA 3. MSF operates the ELWA 3 ETU, which opened on 17 August.]]
During the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, MSF met serious medical demands largely on its own, after the organisation's early warnings were largely ignored.<ref>Marc DuBois and Caitlin Wake, with Scarlett Sturridge and Christina Bennett (2015) [http://www.odi.org/publications/9956-ebola-response-west-africa-exposing-politics-culture-international-aid The Ebola response in West Africa: Exposing the politics and culture of international aid] London: Overseas Development Institute</ref>

===== Burundi =====
MSF-Burundi has aided in attending to casualties suffered in the [[2019 Burundi landslides]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/burundi/burundi-floods-landslides-flash-update-no-3-12-december-2019|title=Burundi: Floods & Landslides Flash Update No. 3, 12 December 2019 – Burundi|website=ReliefWeb|date=12 December 2019|access-date=2019-12-13}}</ref>