Homepage featured

Resistance to antibiotics is a growing public health crisis, especially in countries with fragile health systems and in regions at war. One key limitation in most of these settings is a lack of clinical bacteriology laboratory capacity, which leaves medical providers without ways to accurately diagnose patient infections and to tailor antibiotic treatment accordingly. To help fill this critical gap, MSF and partners have developed the Mini-Lab—a small-scale, standalone lab that is easy to transport, set up and operate by staff after only a short training. Its six modules are stocked with everything needed to diagnose common bloodstream and urinary tract infections and to perform antibiotic sensitivity testing using methods adapted to extremely hot climates and remote settings. With Mini-Lab now being rolled out to selected MSF projects, here we highlight the background to its development and some of the research behind the bacteriological tests it incorporates.

Nurses spend more time at the bedside than any other healthcare workers and are a cornerstone of quality, person-centered clinical care in MSF health facilities. Through research, MSF has also shown that empowering nurses can also help expand patient access to care. In this collection, we highlight some of the evidence gathered on nurse-led care models at MSF projects, including through strategies that strengthen nurses through innovative training approaches and bedside tools.

Globally, the number of older people is rapidly increasing, with those aged 60+ expected to more than double by 2050—yet in humanitarian crises, they remain one of the most neglected groups. Older adults often face higher risks due to chronic illnesses, mobility issues, and limited access to appropriate care, especially in low-resource or emergency settings. Despite these needs, humanitarian responses rarely prioritize them, and data on their health and mortality are often lacking.

This collection reflects MSF’s ongoing examination of its own data and practices to identify pathways toward more age-inclusive services in humanitarian crises. It includes analysis of data from MSF-supported mental health services, inpatient departments, and sexual violence services, and further offers several calls to action and reflections on why older people remain overlooked in humanitarian crises. However, MSF also acknowledges major challenges remain, including inadequate age-inclusive services, data gaps, and the need for more geriatric expertise.

Watch this space for more publications from a Lancet Healthy Longevity series on healthcare rights and needs of older people.

Burn injuries represent a challenge in the Gaza Strip, where access to rehabilitation services is constrained by ongoing conflict and limited healthcare resources. This study describe...

Science Portal

Collection Content

See more collections

Mini-Lab—MSF's simplified bacteriology laboratory for low-res...

Nursing care at MSF

Healthcare needs of older people in humanitarian settings

Post-surgical scar management and rehabilitation in burn patients: Insights from Gaza’s challenging context - A retrospective descriptive study

First culture-confirmed melioidosis case in Mozambique: A wakeup call for better diagnostics and clinical awareness

Shotgun metagenomic analysis of the oral microbiomes of children with noma

The effects of armed conflict on children and adolescents: Policy statement