• Imran Ali

    Science Camp

    Imran Ali, a Engineer writing on Water and sanitation in South SudanMay 17, 20130 CommentsBack late last year in Jamam, we had been doing some ad hoc monitoring of the water that people store in their homes, and what we saw surprised us. Oxfam chlorinates the camp’s water supply before distribution,... Read more...Tags: hepatitis E Water sanitation msf Hep E chlorination diarrhoea 
  • Raghu Venugopal

    Aimee’s pain was definitely real

    Raghu Venugopal, a Doctor writing on Healthcare provision in ChadMay 16, 20131 CommentPlease note: all patient names are changed to protect confidentiality. At 2pm on May 7th, Aimee, age 25 years, arrived at a primary care medical facility here in eastern Chad. She had abdominal... Read more...Tags: ultrasound obstetrics ectopic pregnancy abdomen obgyn examination history 
  • Ritu Gambhir

    Three Weeks in Tissi

    Ritu Gambhir, a Humanitarian Affairs Officer writing on healthcare provision in ChadMay 16, 20131 CommentLast night I sat in my tent (which I share with seven other expats) and cried. I cried because it was the 3rd thunderstorm since I arrived in the town of Tissi three weeks ago and most of the 50,000 refugees... Read more...Tags: refugee IDP rains mobile shelter water food 
  • Stefan Kruger

    On quick decisions and difficult questions.

    Stefan Kruger, a doctor writing on healthcare provision in AfghanistanMay 15, 20130 CommentsUsually we receive no warning of the imminent arrival of bomb blast victims. They normally arrive in a cloud of panic; chaotic screaming ensues and staff members run to man their posts. This time we are prepared.... Read more...Tags: amputation msf emergency bomb IED accident fracture orthopedics 
  • Ben King

    Flying with the wind...

    Ben King, a logistician writing on healthcare provision in AfghanistanMay 13, 20130 CommentsWith a gentle and skillful pull of the line, it flies quickly up up up into the sky, further and further as more and more string is released until the colourful kite soars almost out of sight in the cloudless... Read more...Tags: kites hope 
  • Raghu Venugopal

    What will day 58 bring?

    Raghu Venugopal, a Doctor writing on Healthcare provision in ChadMay 13, 20133 CommentsI only have four weeks left in Chad on this mission. The days have been long. I am exhausted. I skipped my last chance at a break to not miss one of the most critical MSF planning exercises of the year.... Read more...Tags: tuberculosis HIV MDR-TB lungs elbow lymph nodes pulmonary 
  • Raghu Venugopal

    Malnourished children and displaced people

    Raghu Venugopal, a Doctor writing on Healthcare provision in ChadMay 9, 20131 CommentWe all knew that late in the dry season, malnutrition would peak. But this week it hit us hard. Our outreach teams had difficulty coping. The hospital was temporarily over-run. Dr. Johanna, our MSF doctor... Read more...Tags: malnutrition emergency pediatric epidemiology flexible darfur displacement theraputic feeding 
  • Minja Westerlund

    Celebrating motherhood

    Minja Westerlund, a psychologist writing on mental health in Papua New GuineaMay 9, 20134 CommentsThe second Sunday of May we celebrate Mother’s day in many countries all over the world, including Papua New Guinea and my home country Finland. Usually Mother’s day for me is giving my mother a card... Read more...Tags: violence msf mother's mothering Sunday domestic 
  • Minja Westerlund

    For better, for worse

    Minja Westerlund, a psychologist writing on mental health in Papua New GuineaMay 8, 20130 Comments“Do you want to come and see a bride price ceremony?” counselor Leonie asked us last week. Of course I, the project coordinator and the medical doctor Martina were immediately up for it. A bride... Read more...Tags: msf wedding marriage domestic violence 
  • Terry Porsild

    Death and dilemma

    Terry Porsild, a mental health officer writing on tuberculosis in TajikistanMay 8, 20130 CommentsEmotions don’t really fall into the category of stigma the way TB does, yet the Tajiks seem very frightened of evoking too many of them. They go out of their way to avoid displays of emotion, seeing... Read more...Tags: stigma MDR-TB dilemma culture emotion grief