South Africa: Western Cape begins to breathe after COVID-19 peak

On 1 June, the day Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) opened Khayelitsha Field Hospital, 1,730 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in South Africa’s Western Cape. To relieve the immense pressure on the Khayelitsha District Hospital, 17 patients were transferred to the field hospital on that first day. At one point during the period of … Read more

COVID-19: Diagnostic company Cepheid charging four times more than it should for COVID-19 tests

GENEVA – Given the urgent global need for rapid, point-of-care diagnostic tests to deal with the continuous spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls on US diagnostics firm Cepheid to allocate its COVID-19 tests (Xpert Xpress SARS-COV2) equitably and affordably across all countries. MSF called on Cepheid to refrain from profiteering … Read more

Kyrgyzstan: In remote parts, COVID-19 puts a strain on the health system

As COVID-19 cases surge in Kyrgyzstan, especially in the capital Bishkek, rural and remote regions are bracing themselves for the virus by scaling up preventive measures, while simultaneously striving to guarantee essential medical care, especially for women and children. Despite the country’s strong health system, maintaining quality services outside big cities has suffered in recent years, as a … Read more

Syria: COVID-19 provokes fears over further health system decline in northwestern Syria

Four months after COVID-19 was officially declared an international pandemic, the disease has made its way into northwest Syria, with a first case confirmed on 9 July. Since then, 18 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the area. More than half of the positive cases so far are healthcare workers who were working in the few remaining … Read more

Greece: Greek government must end lockdown for locked up people on Greek islands

COVID-19-related lockdown measures have had an impact on the lives of everyone around the world and generated increasing levels of stress and anxiety for many of us. However, the restriction of movement imposed in places like Moria and Vathy, on the Greek islands, have proven to be toxic for the thousands of people contained there. … Read more

Greece: Vulnerable refugees evicted and left to sleep on streets

Athens: An increasing number of refugees in Greece with severe health and mental health conditions are being threatened with eviction from their accommodation, cut off from cash assistance and left in the streets without access to shelter, protection or proper healthcare. Looking for a quick solution to decongest the overcrowded camps on the Greek islands, the … Read more

Bihar: To the one fighting against all odds

Currently working in Bihar at a COVID-19 treatment centre, Dr Nimrat Kaur, Regional Deputy Project Coordinator – Asia at Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors Without Borders, has been treating patients under harsh, often unhygienic and overcrowded conditions, where their access to healthcare is already compromised. IANSlife spoke to the doctor to find out … Read more

Yemen: As COVID-19 spreads, fear drives people away from hospitals in Yemen

As COVID-19 spreads through Yemen, widespread fear of the coronavirus is preventing people from seeking medical care. Teams from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have started recently supporting a new COVID-19 treatment centre in Sheikh Zayed hospital in the Yemeni capital Sana’a. Only half of the 20 beds for patients with moderate coronavirus symptoms in Sheikh Zayed hospital are … Read more

COVID-19 vaccine: 6 recommendations for equitable access

We’re in a time of unprecedented mobilisation to tackle COVID-19. We’re in a time of unprecedented mobilisation to tackle COVID-19. Governments and philanthropies have contributed billions to the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines, while Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has recently launched a new fund – the COVAX Facility – to make advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines. … Read more

बिहार: डॉक्टर्स विदाउट बॉर्डर्स ने भारत में अस्थायी 100- बिस्तर वाला कोविड -19 उपचार केंद्र खोला

पटना : भारत में Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / डॉक्टर्स विदाउट बॉर्डर्स ने बिहार सरकार के सहयोग के साथ कोविड -19 महामारी के रोगियों का इलाज करने के लिए 100 बिस्तर वाला अस्थायी अस्पताल, पटना के पाटलिपुत्र खेल परिसर में स्थापित किया है। COVID- 19 अस्थाई होसपिटल को आधिकारिक रूप से बिहार के माननीय मुख्यमंत्री श्री … Read more