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Central African Republic

© Colin Delfosse/Ouf of Focus
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Situated in the heart of Africa, the Central African Republic is one of the poorest and least developed nations in the world. It gained independence from France in 1960, and has faced numerous coups and years of instability.

Thousands of Central Africans have been killed, wounded or forced to flee by ongoing violence and unrest. The result is a protracted humanitarian crisis.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) first worked in the Central African Republic in 1997. We provide medical care both in the country, and for Central African refugees who have fled across the border to neighbouring nations.

Antoine Clogne, soaking wet at the MSF training day
Antoine Clogne
Logistician
Blindfolds, raincoats and antibiotics: training the team in Central African Republic
When Antoine volunteered to help with some medical training, this was not what he expected. He shares the story from the Central African Republic…
28 Feb 2019 / 3 minute read
Zemio hospital where thousands of people had been sheltering from violence
Dr Charles Ssonko
Charles Ssonko
Doctor
Innovation: Civil war, communities and HIV
Charles Ssonko is an HIV/TB advisor based in the Manson Unit – a specialist medical innovation team – at MSF UK. As part of his work in the Central African Republic, Charles blogs about a series of innovative groups that have empowered HIV patients even in times of conflict.
07 Feb 2019 / 7 minute read
Sylvia Schaber
Sylvia Schaber
Doctor
Slow and yet too fast
"After my six months here in the Central African Republic I can only say: It is an amazing experience! You learn so much. I am sure that an assignment with MSF will not allow anyone to return home unchanged."
26 Jan 2019 / 5 minute read
Sylvia Schaber
Sylvia Schaber
Doctor
The belief in natural healing powers
Traditional medicine plays an important role in the Central African Republic. I have more critical view of the issue, because unfortunately we encounter it in two specific situations in hospital: in emergency cases and at discharges against medical advice.
04 Dec 2018 / 2 minute read
An MSF landcruiser driving through a river in CAR
Antoine Clogne
Logistician
Termite time: A day with a community outreach team
Supply logistician Antoine is in the Central African Republic, joining a Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) community outreach team on a trip to a remote village health centre.
03 Dec 2018 / 6 minute read
Sylvia Schaber
Sylvia Schaber
Doctor
Difficult decisions, serious consequences
"From a western European perspective, this idea is difficult to understand. Here, however, traditions are deeply rooted in the local communities..."
03 Nov 2018 / 4 minute read
Kariantti Kallio
Anaesthetics
No time for goodbyes: Leaving Bangui
After an assignment marked by violence, an MSF anaesthetist faces his next challenge: returning home.
29 Oct 2018 / 3 minute read
The MSF team poses by a small plane
Antoine Clogne
Logistician
Logistics: Busy weeks in Bossangoa
How do our teams make sure they have everything they need to save lives? Supply logistician Antoine takes us behind the scenes in the Central African Republic.
22 Oct 2018 / 4 minute read
Kariantti Kallio
Anaesthetics
A first time for everything: learning fast in Bangui
With a patient bleeding heavily, Kariantti and the MSF team had to act quickly. He blogs from Bangui, Central African Republic...
09 Oct 2018 / 3 minute read
Sylvia Schaber
Sylvia Schaber
Doctor
Central African Republic: Deciding to stay
Her first assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was meant to be three months long, but German doctor Sylvia Schaber decided to stay for six. In this blog, she writes about both the inspiration and the hard reality she has found in Bossangoa, Central African Republic.
07 Oct 2018 / 3 minute read
Kariantti Kallio
Anaesthetics
After the fight: Returning to routine in Bangui
After nearby conflict forced his MSF team to evacuate a maternity hospital in Bangui, Central African Republic, Finnish anaesthetist Kariantti writes about returning to routine in the days following the fighting.
01 Oct 2018 / 3 minute read
Luciano Canchelara MSF
Luciano Canchelara
Mental health specialist
Caring for survivors of sexual violence in the Central African Republic
Luciano Canchelara is a psychologist who has been working at MSF’s sexual violence clinic in Bangui for the past three months.
25 Sep 2018 / 4 minute read