Category: News

press freedom under threat in Mali and Burkina Faso: rsf and 30 organizations call for action Under the leadership of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), nearly 30 human rights and media organizations have issued a joint open letter to authorities in Mali and Burkina Faso, urging an immediate end to escalating attacks on press freedom in both nations. “This coordinated initiative highlights the critical need to protect journalists and uphold the right to information,” stated Sadibou Marong, RSF’s Sub-Saharan Africa Director. “In light of World Press Freedom Day, authorities must act…

Current Events Nutrition Addressing the malnutrition crisis in Mali: a public health priority Widespread across Mali, malnutrition represents a critical health emergency for this Sahelian nation of 15 million people. Despite recent prevention strategies, several regions continue to struggle with high rates of nutritional deficiency. Here is an overview of the current situation. Multiple areas in Mali are currently facing nutritional crises. In response, Malian authorities have stepped up their efforts. With a staggering child mortality rate where nearly one in five children dies before the age of five, improving…

measles surge in Niger demands urgent attention related insights vaccination: protecting the most vulnerable associated initiatives pediatric care in southern Niger support for displaced persons in Diffa Dr. François Rubona, a medical coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières in Niger, highlights the escalating measles crisis gripping the nation. Since February, MSF teams have mobilized mass vaccination campaigns across multiple regions to curb the alarming rise in early-onset measles clusters. Here’s an in-depth look at the epidemic’s current state. how severe is Niger’s measles outbreak? This year has witnessed a dramatic surge…

As the 45th session of the Human Rights Council approaches its conclusion, the Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT) and its partners within the SOS-Torture Network are urging the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, along with all Council members, to give critical attention to the Fulani populations in Burkina Faso. These communities are caught in the escalating conflict stemming from counter-terrorism operations across the Sahel region. Since 2016, the Fulani people in Burkina Faso have been subjected to grave human rights abuses, some of which bear the…

polio vaccination campaign launched in seven regions of Burkina Faso polio vaccination campaign launched in seven regions of Burkina Faso health Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign on Friday, targeting seven regions across the country. Running from 18 to 21 September 2020, the campaign aims to immunize over 2 million children under five in seven regions: Plateau Central, Centre, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, and Centre-Est. UNICEF confirmed this in a press release, highlighting the urgency…

new pediatric unit in Koutiala, Mali enhances child healthcare pediatric care explore Koutiala, Mali, where a groundbreaking pediatric unit is transforming child healthcare since 2009, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has operated a pediatric program in Koutiala, southeastern Mali, to combat child mortality through preventive and curative care. To enhance treatment for young patients, MSF initiated the construction of a modern pediatric unit. Over more than a year, we documented this transformative project. malaria remains a leading cause of child mortality in the Koutiala region. Affected children often experience reduced appetite,…

vaccination against measles and meningitis outbreaks in Niger updated november 2019 Miriam Alía, vaccination and epidemic response lead at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), discusses the meningitis C and measles outbreaks that struck Niger in early 2018. Why did the meningitis C and measles outbreaks occur? In 2018, Niger faced severe outbreaks of meningitis C and measles, both highly contagious and life-threatening diseases. While vaccination campaigns should have prevented these epidemics, each case posed unique challenges. Meningitis C: a global vaccine shortage No single affordable vaccine covers all meningitis serogroups. Global…