As the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic grips the world, one of its most devastating indirect effects is the disruption to medical services for preventing and treating other life-threatening diseases—especially in countries with already-fragile health systems. For MSF and other global health actors this means not only responding to Covid-19 directly but also assessing its impact on other essential care and then adapting programs so they can keep serving patients despite the enormous obstacles.
In this Collection you will find a selection of published articles and conference content from this year’s MSF Scientific Days 2021 conference content, encompassing a range of approaches, settings and medical challenges—from malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS prevention and care to digital health promotion and sexual and reproductive health.
MSF Scientific Days in Latin America 2024 focused on two thematic areas:
Climate Emergency in the Americas: What Are We Seeing as a Medical Humanitarian Organization and How Are We Responding?
MSF has long responded to health crises aggravated by the climate emergency —such as disease outbreaks, food insecurity, and displacement—and these events are intensifying in severity and frequency. This session presented examples of how MSF is adapting to address climate-related emergencies in the region, and explored strategies for future humanitarian action.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Interventions in Violence, Migration, and Indigenous Health Projects
This session explored the complexities of providing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in some of the region’s most challenging settings. It focused on interventions in areas affected by violence, the mental health impact on migrants, and the unique needs of indigenous populations. The discussion highlighted innovative strategies, culturally sensitive approaches, and the importance of integrating MHPSS into healthcare projects in these complex settings.
Nyang'wa BT, Berry C, Kazounis E, Motta I, Parpieva N, et al.
2024-02-01 • Lancet Respiratory Medicine
2024-02-01 • Lancet Respiratory Medicine
BACKGROUND Around 500,000 people worldwide develop rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis each year. The proportion of successful treatment outcomes remains low and new treatments are nee...
Nyang'wa BT, Berry C, Kazounis E, Motta I, Parpieva N, et al.
2022-12-22 • New England Journal of Medicine
2022-12-22 • New England Journal of Medicine
BACKGROUND In patients with rifampin-resistant tuberculosis, all-oral treatment regimens that are more effective, shorter, and have a more acceptable side-effect profile than current...
Sweeney S, Berry C, Kazounis E, Motta I, Vassall A, et al.
2022-12-07 • PLOS Global Public Health
2022-12-07 • PLOS Global Public Health
Current options for treating tuberculosis (TB) that is resistant to rifampicin (RR-TB) are few, and regimens are often long and poorly tolerated. Following recent evidence from the TB-PR...
Berry C, du Cros PAK, Fielding K, Gajewski S, Kazounis E, et al.
2022-06-13 • Trials
2022-06-13 • Trials
BACKGROUND Globally rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis disease affects around 460,000 people each year. Currently recommended regimens are 9-24 months duration, have poor efficacy and...
Lachenal N, Hewison CCH, Berry C, Mitnick CD, Ahmed SM, et al.
2022-05-11 • MSF Scientific Days International 2022
2022-05-11 • MSF Scientific Days International 2022
INTRODUCTION Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) carries significant morbidity and mortality risk. Care of DR-TB in pregnancy is even more challenging. A recent meta-analysis examini...
Berry C, Motta I, Kazounis E, Fielding K, Dodd M, et al.
2022-05-11 • MSF Scientific Days International 2022
2022-05-11 • MSF Scientific Days International 2022
INTRODUCTION Rifamipcin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) affects around 465,000 people each year globally. Current treatment is of 9-20 months’ duration; is toxic and poorly efficaciou...
Wharton-Smith A, Horter SCB, Douch E, Gray NSB, James N, et al.
2021-12-04 • Trials
2021-12-04 • Trials
BACKGROUND Addressing the global burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) requires identification of shorter, less toxic treatment regimens. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)...
Nyang'wa BT, Kloprogge F, Moore DAJ, Bustinduy A, Motta I, et al.
2021-09-06 • BMJ Open
2021-09-06 • BMJ Open
INTRODUCTION Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health threat, with little over 50% of patients successfully treated. Novel regimens like the ones being studied in the...
INTRODUCTION People living with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis currently have few options for effective treatment and cure. Regimens that are available are toxic, may involve injec...
Nyang'wa BT, LaHood AN, Mitnick CD, Guglielmetti L
2021-05-29 • Trials
2021-05-29 • Trials
When 2020 opened, approximately 11 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases and nearly 1.5 million TB-related deaths were predicted during the year. And, the gap between required and availabl...
Sweeney S, Gomez G, Kitson N, Sinha A, Yatskevich N, et al.
2020-10-10 • BMJ Open
2020-10-10 • BMJ Open
INTRODUCTION Current treatment regimens for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are long, poorly tolerated and have poor outcomes. Furthermore, the costs of treating MDR-TB are...
