Snakebite envenoming in humanitarian crises and migration: A scoping review and the Médecins Sans Frontières experience

AbstractMédecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors without Borders, was started by a few doctors and journalists in the 1970s. Today, MSF is a humanitarian actor to be reckoned with, with its emergency medicine expertise and its unique interpretation of the neutrality and independence principles. The organization has acted unconventionally in numerous humanitarian crises and criticized peer organizations in the sector. This nonconformity has never harmed MSF; the organization is highly respected by the general public. This chapter analyzes how MSF as a principled provocateur could evolve into a public guardian of humanitarian values. We posit that MSF’s controversial acts have become an integral part of its reputation; it is expected to go against the grain. However, in order to be credible, the organization works hard to uphold its ‘volunteer and humanitarian spirit’ and strives to be an effective and professional organization.

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Health priorities in displacement

Oxford Handbook of Humanitarian Medicine ◽

10.1093/med/9780199565276.003.0003 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 27-54

Author(s):

Gustavo Fernandez ◽

Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier ◽

Alena Koscalova ◽

Kiran Jobanputra ◽

Ana Maria Tijerino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Natural Disaster ◽

Armed Conflict ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Health Priorities ◽

Operational Experience ◽

Complex Environments ◽

Medecins Sans Frontieres ◽

Humanitarian Crises ◽

Médecins Sans Frontières ◽

Special Circumstances

This chapter provides updated and re-considered guidelines for the top ten priorities in providing care in situations of displacement. It outlines the two major causes of displacement—armed conflict and natural disaster—and the increasingly complex environments in which displacement is occurring, with increased urban crises, complex hostilities, and the lack of enforcement of humanitarian principles. This complexity has mandated a reconsideration of the previously established top priorities by the same Médecins Sans Frontières team who provided the original. This chapter provides a list and discussion of the updated top ten priorities in humanitarian health interventions, adapted based on years of operational experience and acknowledgement of the special circumstances of many of today’s humanitarian crises.

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Psychiatric Médecins Sans Frontières: Child Temperament as Theoretical TraversePsychiatric Médecins Sans Frontières: Child Temperament as Theoretical Traverse

PsycCRITIQUES ◽

10.1037/a0036121 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5959 (1313) ◽

Author(s):

Ian M. Evans ◽

Mallory J. Klaunig

Keyword(s):

Child Temperament ◽

Medecins Sans Frontieres ◽

Médecins Sans Frontières

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Working with Medecins Sans Frontieres Psycho-Social Care Unit

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e556442013-004 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Sam Farmer

Keyword(s):

Social Care ◽

Medecins Sans Frontieres ◽

Médecins Sans Frontières

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Public health measures to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Canada during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046177 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. e046177

Author(s):

Julie Polisena ◽

Maria Ospina ◽

Omolara Sanni ◽

Brittany Matenchuk ◽

Rachel Livergant ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Health Agency ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Pandemic Preparedness ◽

School Closures ◽

Mass Gatherings ◽

And Migration ◽

Priority Populations ◽

New Evidence

ObjectiveThe main objectives of this study were to synthesise and compare pandemic preparedness strategies issued by the federal and provincial/territorial (P/T) governments in Canada and to assess whether COVID-19 public health (PH) measures were tailored towards priority populations, as defined by relevant social determinants of health.MethodsThis scoping review searched federal and P/T websites on daily COVID-19 pandemic preparedness strategies between 30 January and 30 April 2020. The PROGRESS-Plus equity-lens framework was used to define priority populations. All definitions, policies and guidelines of PH strategies implemented by the federal and P/T governments to reduce risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission were included. PH measures were classified using a modified Public Health Agency of Canada Framework for Canadian Pandemic Influenza Preparedness.ResultsA total of 722 COVID-19 PH measures were issued during the study period. Of these, home quarantine (voluntary) (n=13.0%; 94/722) and retail/commerce restrictions (10.9%; n=79/722) were the most common measures introduced. Many of the PH orders, including physical distancing, cancellation of mass gatherings, school closures or retail/commerce restrictions began to be introduced after 11 March 2020. Lifting of some of the PH orders in phases to reopen the economy began in April 2020 (6.5%; n=47/722). The majority (68%, n=491/722) of COVID-19 PH announcements were deemed mandatory, while 32% (n=231/722) were recommendations. Several PH measures (28.0%, n=202/722) targeted a variety of groups at risk of socially produced health inequalities, such as age, religion, occupation and migration status.ConclusionsMost PH measures centred on limiting contact between people who were not from the same household. PH measures were evolutionary in nature, reflecting new evidence that emerged throughout the pandemic. Although ~30% of all implemented COVID-19 PH measures were tailored towards priority groups, there were still unintended consequences on these populations.

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