Journal Article > Short ReportFull Text
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 21 April 2025; Volume 19 (Issue 4); e0012940.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012940
Galli A, Comparet M, Dagne DA, Baratti-Mayer D, Cao TH, et al.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 21 April 2025; Volume 19 (Issue 4); e0012940.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012940
- A 1-day symposium brought together over 100 individuals with lived experience of noma, expertise in neglected tropical diseases, and public health, including researchers, health advocates, and clinicians. The involvement of noma survivors was invaluable and added an important perspective in defining the research agenda.
- The most pressing research needs identified were:
- Clear case definition of noma
- Early case detection and robust surveillance
- Psychosocial and economic impact of noma
- Decision support for diagnosing acute necrotizing gingivitis and associated antibiotic regimen(s) with treatment duration
- Deeper understanding of risk factors and social determinants
- Identification of effective information, education, and communication strategies
- Effectiveness of surgical services
- Testing decentralized follow-up for patients
- An important conclusion was that noma research and control activities must be integrated across sectors and disciplines, such as neglected tropical diseases, oral health, nutrition, and child health programs including immunization.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLOS Clim. 6 March 2024; Volume 3 (Issue 3); e0000243.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000243
McIver L, Beavon E, Malm A, Awad A, Uyen A, et al.
PLOS Clim. 6 March 2024; Volume 3 (Issue 3); e0000243.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000243
This mixed-methods study focuses on the evidence of the health impacts of climate change on populations affected by humanitarian crises, presented from the perspective of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)–the world’s largest emergency humanitarian medical organisation. The Sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was used as the basis of a narrative review, with evidence gaps highlighted and additional literature identified relevant to climate-sensitive diseases and health problems under-reported in–or absent from–the latest IPCC report. An internal survey of MSF headquarters staff was also undertaken to evaluate the perceived frequency and severity of such problems in settings where MSF works. The findings of the survey demonstrate some discrepancies between the health problems that appear most prominently in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and those that are most relevant to humanitarian settings. These findings should be used to guide the direction of future research, evidence-based adaptations and mitigation efforts to avoid the worst impacts of climate change on the health of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
Technical Report > Policy Brief
Blume C, Dallatomasinas S, Devine C, Goikolea I, Guevara M, et al.
15 November 2023
Most of the over 70 countries Médecins Sans Frontières /Doctors Without Borders (MSF) works in are in lower-income regions. They are facing not only humanitarian crises but also the most severe impacts of the climate emergency. In 2023, MSF continued to witness and respond to the consequences of extreme weather events around the world, including unprecedented flooding in South Sudan, severe cyclones in Myanmar and Madagascar, and the relentless heat and extended droughts that have driven millions to the edge of starvation throughout the Horn of Africa. This year, the organisation has also responded to epidemics of climate-sensitive diseases, including multiple concurrent cholera outbreaks and the rise of dengue and malaria in several areas, including in conflict-affected settings.
In a time of polycrisis, a simultaneous occurrence of multiple catastrophic events, MSF and other aid organisations are already struggling to meet the rising health and humanitarian needs. If human activities contributing to climate change and environmental degradation go unabated and unaddressed, including the continued dependence on fossil fuels, these needs will only escalate. With each fraction of a degree of global temperature rise, there will be further limitations on adaptation, and reckless losses and damages to lives, livelihoods, and general well-being.
Drawing on evidence from indicators in the 2023 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, MSF builds on previous experiences and messages with a focus on three key areas: MSF’s ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact; the challenges of adapting emergency humanitarian operations in a rapidly warming world; and the consequences of climate change when the capacities of communities to adapt are surpassed
In a time of polycrisis, a simultaneous occurrence of multiple catastrophic events, MSF and other aid organisations are already struggling to meet the rising health and humanitarian needs. If human activities contributing to climate change and environmental degradation go unabated and unaddressed, including the continued dependence on fossil fuels, these needs will only escalate. With each fraction of a degree of global temperature rise, there will be further limitations on adaptation, and reckless losses and damages to lives, livelihoods, and general well-being.
Drawing on evidence from indicators in the 2023 Report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, MSF builds on previous experiences and messages with a focus on three key areas: MSF’s ongoing efforts to reduce its environmental impact; the challenges of adapting emergency humanitarian operations in a rapidly warming world; and the consequences of climate change when the capacities of communities to adapt are surpassed
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
J Clim Chang Health. 9 September 2023; Online ahead of print; 100270.; DOI:10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100270
Schwerdtle PN, Devine C, Guevara M, Cornish S, Christou C, et al.
J Clim Chang Health. 9 September 2023; Online ahead of print; 100270.; DOI:10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100270
Technical Report > Policy Brief
Baxter LM, Cowan K, Devine C, Guevara M, Kalub D, et al.
27 October 2022
As an independent international medical humanitarian organisation responding to health crises in more than 70 countries, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is seeing first-hand the suffering caused or exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation, most often experienced by the most vulnerable people. We are witnessing how climate change directly threatens health – for example, through death and injury due to extreme weather – and how climate change impacts health indirectly, through food insecurity and shifting patterns of climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
Recognising the role of the climate crisis in amplifying humanitarian needs, MSF is adapting its operations to be more responsive to the populations it serves while also facing up to the challenges of measuring and reducing its own environmental footprint.
Recognising the role of the climate crisis in amplifying humanitarian needs, MSF is adapting its operations to be more responsive to the populations it serves while also facing up to the challenges of measuring and reducing its own environmental footprint.
Conference Material > Video
Tiller S, Krishnan A, Guevara M
MSF Scientific Days International 2020: Innovation. 20 May 2020
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
Global Health. 9 July 2020; Volume 16 (Issue 1); 54.; DOI:10.1186/s12992-020-00582-3
Schwerdtle PN, Irvine E, Brockington S, Devine C, Guevara M, et al.
Global Health. 9 July 2020; Volume 16 (Issue 1); 54.; DOI:10.1186/s12992-020-00582-3
Climate change is adversely affecting health by increasing human vulnerability and exposure to climate-related stresses. Climate change impacts human health both directly and indirectly, through extreme weather events, changing distribution of health risks, increased risks of undernutrition, population displacement, and greater risks of injuries, disease, and death (Ebi, K., Campbell-Lendrum, D., & Wyns, A. The 1. 5 health report. WHO. 2018). This risk amplification is likely to increase the need for humanitarian support. Recent projections indicate that under a business as usual scenario of sustained greenhouse gas emissions, climate change could double the demand for humanitarian assistance by 2050 (World Health Organization. Operational Framework for building climateresilient health systems. WHO. 2015). Humanitarian assistance is currently not meeting the existing needs, therefore, any additional burden is likely to be highly challenging.
Global health advocates, researchers, and policymakers are calling for urgent action on climate change, yet there is little clarity on what that action practically entails for humanitarian organizations. While some humanitarian organizations may consider themselves well designed to respond, climate change as a transversal threat requires the incorporation of a resilience approach to humanitarian action and policy responses.
By bringing together authors from two historically disparate fields - climate change and health, and humanitarian assistance – this paper aims to increase the capacity of humanitarian organizations to protect health in an unstable climate by presenting an adapted framework. We adapted the WHO operational framework for climate-resilient health systems for humanitarian organizations and present concrete case studies to demonstrate how the framework can be implemented. Rather than suggest a re-design of humanitarian operations we recommend the application of a climate-lens to humanitarian activities, or what is also referred to as mainstreaming climate and health concerns into policies and programs. The framework serves as a starting point to encourage further dialogue, and to strengthen collaboration within, between, and beyond humanitarian organizations.
Global health advocates, researchers, and policymakers are calling for urgent action on climate change, yet there is little clarity on what that action practically entails for humanitarian organizations. While some humanitarian organizations may consider themselves well designed to respond, climate change as a transversal threat requires the incorporation of a resilience approach to humanitarian action and policy responses.
By bringing together authors from two historically disparate fields - climate change and health, and humanitarian assistance – this paper aims to increase the capacity of humanitarian organizations to protect health in an unstable climate by presenting an adapted framework. We adapted the WHO operational framework for climate-resilient health systems for humanitarian organizations and present concrete case studies to demonstrate how the framework can be implemented. Rather than suggest a re-design of humanitarian operations we recommend the application of a climate-lens to humanitarian activities, or what is also referred to as mainstreaming climate and health concerns into policies and programs. The framework serves as a starting point to encourage further dialogue, and to strengthen collaboration within, between, and beyond humanitarian organizations.
Technical Report > Policy Brief
Smiley S, McIver L, Schwerdtle PN, Lugli M, Claire A, et al.
21 October 2021
This brief details MSF’s experiences providing humanitarian assistance in contexts heavily affected by climate change; adapting our operations to climate-related threats; and working to reduce our environmental impact. Much like the process of ‘greening’ this vast, global movement, this brief is incomplete, imperfect: it tells an infinitely complex story from a limited range of perspectives, and poses more questions than it answers as we grapple with emergent facts. Given the imminent existential threat presented by current levels of environmental degradation, these limitations can probably be forgiven. But as we witness the human toll and deep injustice of the climate crisis, silence is, once again, not an option.
Journal Article > CommentaryFull Text
BMJ. 3 December 2021; Volume 375 (Issue n3008); n3008.; DOI:10.1136/bmj.n3008
Voûte C, Guevara M, Schwerdtle PN
BMJ. 3 December 2021; Volume 375 (Issue n3008); n3008.; DOI:10.1136/bmj.n3008
Technical Report > Policy Brief
Devine C, Guevara M, Belliveau LB, Jobanputra K, Serafini M, et al.
1 November 2019
KEY MESSAGES:
• Apply a cross-sector and interdisciplinary approach to humanitarian and global health responses and local, regional and international collaborations
• Identify, highlight and respond to the disproportionate needs of vulnerable groups
• Better understand the connections between climate-sensitive diseases and climate variability to improve humanitarian planning and responses based on predicted increases in disease burdens in already-vulnerable populations
• Urgently enhance cholera preparedness and response in countries without surveillance capacity
• Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks and better document risks and interventions with a climate change lens, update health needs assessments, analyze patterns and changes over time and contribute data to operational research
• Document environmental health-related and climate change effects on vulnerable populations to contribute to broader policy advocacy and legal initiatives
• Identify and reduce health disparities in urban slums, including through ensuring access to services and provision of mental health support
• Provide protection for people fleeing including through urging respect and development of people-centred policies
• Recognise that human needs outstrip the humanitarian response: as such, health considerations should be integrated into national and international mitigation planning to reduce suffering
• Invest funds in strengthened humanitarian responses
• Commit to efforts to rapidly and exponentially reduce the negative environmental impact of global health and humanitarian organizations, including MSF, in line with medical ethics.
• Apply a cross-sector and interdisciplinary approach to humanitarian and global health responses and local, regional and international collaborations
• Identify, highlight and respond to the disproportionate needs of vulnerable groups
• Better understand the connections between climate-sensitive diseases and climate variability to improve humanitarian planning and responses based on predicted increases in disease burdens in already-vulnerable populations
• Urgently enhance cholera preparedness and response in countries without surveillance capacity
• Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks and better document risks and interventions with a climate change lens, update health needs assessments, analyze patterns and changes over time and contribute data to operational research
• Document environmental health-related and climate change effects on vulnerable populations to contribute to broader policy advocacy and legal initiatives
• Identify and reduce health disparities in urban slums, including through ensuring access to services and provision of mental health support
• Provide protection for people fleeing including through urging respect and development of people-centred policies
• Recognise that human needs outstrip the humanitarian response: as such, health considerations should be integrated into national and international mitigation planning to reduce suffering
• Invest funds in strengthened humanitarian responses
• Commit to efforts to rapidly and exponentially reduce the negative environmental impact of global health and humanitarian organizations, including MSF, in line with medical ethics.