Editing Médecins Sans Frontières (section)

==== 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" />