Posts tagged photography

Chad: “The Malnutrition Situation is Dire as the Peak Season Looms” MSF is expanding its health and nutrition programs in Chad to respond to the growing malnutrition crisis in the country. MSF is currently treating malnourished children at five projects in Chad, and has dispatched emergency teams to assess whether more interventions are required. At one of MSF’s long-term projects in Am Timan, located Chad’s southeastern Salamat region, MSF is expanding its number of outreach centers from eight to twelve to respond to escalating malnutrition rates. From January though April, MSF admitted 2,478 children to ambulatory therapeutic feeding centers—almost twice as many as at the same time last year. Even in a normal year, Chad has one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the world. In early 2012, in some areas of the country, rates of global acute malnutrition as high as 24 percent were reported among children under the age of five. A combination of factors is behind these alarming numbers, including failed harvests, erratic rains, soaring food prices, and an early depletion of food stocks.An MSF doctor examines a child for malnutrition at an outreach clinic near Am Timan. Chad 2012 © Catherine Robinson/MSF

Chad: “The Malnutrition Situation is Dire as the Peak Season Looms”

MSF is expanding its health and nutrition programs in Chad to respond to the growing malnutrition crisis in the country. MSF is currently treating malnourished children at five projects in Chad, and has dispatched emergency teams to assess whether more interventions are required.

At one of MSF’s long-term projects in Am Timan, located Chad’s southeastern Salamat region, MSF is expanding its number of outreach centers from eight to twelve to respond to escalating malnutrition rates. From January though April, MSF admitted 2,478 children to ambulatory therapeutic feeding centers—almost twice as many as at the same time last year.

Even in a normal year, Chad has one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the world. In early 2012, in some areas of the country, rates of global acute malnutrition as high as 24 percent were reported among children under the age of five. A combination of factors is behind these alarming numbers, including failed harvests, erratic rains, soaring food prices, and an early depletion of food stocks.

An MSF doctor examines a child for malnutrition at an outreach clinic near Am Timan.
Chad 2012 © Catherine Robinson/MSF

At the end of a long day, Dr. Martin John Jarmin III (left) and anesthesiologist Katrine Finsnes go to check on a patient in the intensive care unit. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

At the end of a long day, Dr. Martin John Jarmin III (left) and anesthesiologist Katrine Finsnes go to check on a patient in the intensive care unit.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Munir*, 8, who broke his leg in a fall, plays in his hospital bed.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Munir*, 8, who broke his leg in a fall, plays in his hospital bed.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Dr. Juan Robinson, an orthopedic surgeon, reviews a patient’s X-ray with other medical staff during rounds in the inpatient ward. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Dr. Juan Robinson, an orthopedic surgeon, reviews a patient’s X-ray with other medical staff during rounds in the inpatient ward.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Ahmed*, 31, lies in his hospital bed as a relative looks on. A farmer in Kunduz, Ahmed suffered serious abdominal and leg injuries after setting off a hidden explosive in his field. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Ahmed*, 31, lies in his hospital bed as a relative looks on. A farmer in Kunduz, Ahmed suffered serious abdominal and leg injuries after setting off a hidden explosive in his field.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

A young Afghan man is transferred to another bed before undergoing an emergency operation in the surgical ward. The man had suffered a gunshot wound to the lower chest. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

A young Afghan man is transferred to another bed before undergoing an emergency operation in the surgical ward. The man had suffered a gunshot wound to the lower chest.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

MSF surgeon Martin John Jarmin III interacts with a patient during rounds. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

MSF surgeon Martin John Jarmin III interacts with a patient during rounds.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Abdallah* displays his artwork. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Abdallah* displays his artwork.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

A man and an injured young boy wait outside the triage ward. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern AfghanistanPhotos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

A man and an injured young boy wait outside the triage ward.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

The front gate at the MSF trauma hospital in Kunduz. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern AfghanistanPhotos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

The front gate at the MSF trauma hospital in Kunduz.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

An MSF physiotherapist assists Suleiman*, a 15-year-old boy in the intensive care unit. He underwent an emergency laparotomy the night before after suffering a complete bowel obstruction due to a traumatic injury. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan *All patients’ names have been changed.Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

An MSF physiotherapist assists Suleiman*, a 15-year-old boy in the intensive care unit. He underwent an emergency laparotomy the night before after suffering a complete bowel obstruction due to a traumatic injury.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

*All patients’ names have been changed.

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

A young girl walks through the early-morning fog outside the perimeter of the hospital. Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed. In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern AfghanistanPhotos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

A young girl walks through the early-morning fog outside the perimeter of the hospital.

Before the opening of the MSF surgical hospital in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, people in the region suffering from severe injuries had two options. They made the long and dangerous journey to Kabul or Pakistan, or they visited an expensive private clinic. As a result, few patients received the trauma care they needed.

In less than a year, the MSF trauma center, equipped with an emergency room, two operating theaters, and an intensive care unit, has seen more than 3,700 patients. The majority are victims of so-called “general trauma”—road traffic accidents, domestic violence, or civilian gunshot wounds.

More photos: Trauma Care Where There Was None in Northern Afghanistan

Photos: Afghanistan 2012 © Michael Goldfarb/MSF

Malian Refugees Urgently Need International Aid Refugees from the West African country of Mali face insufficient levels of assistance in camps rife with disease and malnutrition where the looming rainy season will further complicate the deployment of aid, the international medical humanitarian organization MSF said today. One-hundred sixty thousand Malian refugees living in camps in neighboring Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger are in urgent need of international assistance, particularly food distributions, MSF said. MSF teams working in the camps are treating children suffering from malnutrition. “Food insecurity is a threat both for the Malian refugees and for the host communities, which are already suffering from poor harvests,” said Malik Allaouna, MSF director of operations. “Only food distributions in sufficient quantity and quality will prevent children’s nutritional condition from further deteriorating.” Photo:Young Malian refugees in one of Burkina Faso’s refugee camps. Burkina Faso 2012 © Aurelie Baumel/MSF

Malian Refugees Urgently Need International Aid

Refugees from the West African country of Mali face insufficient levels of assistance in camps rife with disease and malnutrition where the looming rainy season will further complicate the deployment of aid, the international medical humanitarian organization MSF said today.

One-hundred sixty thousand Malian refugees living in camps in neighboring Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger are in urgent need of international assistance, particularly food distributions, MSF said. MSF teams working in the camps are treating children suffering from malnutrition.

“Food insecurity is a threat both for the Malian refugees and for the host communities, which are already suffering from poor harvests,” said Malik Allaouna, MSF director of operations. “Only food distributions in sufficient quantity and quality will prevent children’s nutritional condition from further deteriorating.”

Photo:Young Malian refugees in one of Burkina Faso’s refugee camps. Burkina Faso 2012 © Aurelie Baumel/MSF

Nigeria Lead Poisoning Crisis—Now Is the Time for ActionNigerian Government Must Ensure Clean Up of Affected Area, Along With Necessary Medical Care and Safer Mining Practices The Nigerian government must commit significant resources to respond to a lead poisoning epidemic in Zamfara State, which has sickened thousands of children since 2010, the international medical humanitarian organization MSF and other delegates at an international conference on the epidemic said today. Decision-makers from the Nigerian government and the ministers of mines, environment, and health were not present at the International Lead Poisoning Conference, held May 9–10 in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. No concrete action by the Nigerian federal government was announced. “There has been plenty of talk, but now is the time for action,” said Ivan Gayton, MSF country representative in Nigeria. “MSF will consider this conference to be a success when all of the poisoned children are living in a safe environment and receiving treatment.”Photo: A 10-year-old worker at the gold processing site in Bagega Nigeria 2012 © Olga Overbeek/MSF

Nigeria Lead Poisoning Crisis—Now Is the Time for Action

Nigerian Government Must Ensure Clean Up of Affected Area, Along With Necessary Medical Care and Safer Mining Practices

The Nigerian government must commit significant resources to respond to a lead poisoning epidemic in Zamfara State, which has sickened thousands of children since 2010, the international medical humanitarian organization MSF and other delegates at an international conference on the epidemic said today.

Decision-makers from the Nigerian government and the ministers of mines, environment, and health were not present at the International Lead Poisoning Conference, held May 9–10 in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. No concrete action by the Nigerian federal government was announced.

“There has been plenty of talk, but now is the time for action,” said Ivan Gayton, MSF country representative in Nigeria. “MSF will consider this conference to be a success when all of the poisoned children are living in a safe environment and receiving treatment.”

Photo: A 10-year-old worker at the gold processing site in Bagega
Nigeria 2012 © Olga Overbeek/MSF

Pregnant With MalariaPatient: Zamukunda [name changed], 20 years old and pregnant, Mweso Hospital, North Kivu “My name is Zamukunda. I tested positive for malaria at the health center. This morning I delivered my first child, a boy who weighed 1.6 kg [3.5 pounds]. My labor began very late last night, which was a surprise because I was still far from my delivery date. I was in a lot of pain and was bleeding, which made me worry, so I left the house with my mother and we walked for two hours to reach this health center. My baby was born at two in the morning. He was not breathing very well and I was continuing to bleed so MSF decided to transfer us in their car from Kashuga to the main hospital in Mweso. We picked up another woman and her child who was very sick with malaria. The trip took only an hour since there has not been much rain. Now I am in the intensive care unit at the hospital with my baby, who is on oxygen. So far we are doing okay.”DRC 2012 © Sandra Smiley Patients receiving malaria treatment in an MSF-supported hospital in Katanga province.

Pregnant With Malaria

Patient: Zamukunda [name changed], 20 years old and pregnant, Mweso Hospital, North Kivu

“My name is Zamukunda. I tested positive for malaria at the health center. This morning I delivered my first child, a boy who weighed 1.6 kg [3.5 pounds]. My labor began very late last night, which was a surprise because I was still far from my delivery date. I was in a lot of pain and was bleeding, which made me worry, so I left the house with my mother and we walked for two hours to reach this health center.

My baby was born at two in the morning. He was not breathing very well and I was continuing to bleed so MSF decided to transfer us in their car from Kashuga to the main hospital in Mweso. We picked up another woman and her child who was very sick with malaria. The trip took only an hour since there has not been much rain. Now I am in the intensive care unit at the hospital with my baby, who is on oxygen. So far we are doing okay.”

DRC 2012 © Sandra Smiley
Patients receiving malaria treatment in an MSF-supported hospital in Katanga province.