In South Sudan, rains and MSF intervention end nutritional crisis

MSF is closing feeding centres in Tanyang, Dirror District, Sudan. A nutritional survey in October showed that malnutrition rates fell from 40% global and 10% severe levels in May to 20% global and 2% severe malnutrition rates currently. The October figures constitute what is considered normal levels of malnourishment in Sudan. Project Update - 18 Nov 2002

Access to medicines

Access Campaign accomplishments 1999-2002

There has been a collection of high quality posters designed specifically for the Access Campaign in the MSF offices worldwide over the past three years. This collection shows some of the range for the posters. Project Update - 18 Nov 2002

HIV/AIDS

Roche Is faulted for high cost of AIDS drug in poor countries

MSF released pricing information to support its argument, as well as data that it said show the Swiss drug maker could easily cut prices further and still make a profit. Project Update - 15 Nov 2002

Access to medicines

Expect progress to be tough at WTO summit on drugs

Both the EU and the U.S., the world's two major drug producers, have offered drug-patent proposals that are far more restrictive than those favored by developing countries and many nongovernmental organizations. Developing countries want access to a wider range of drugs, while a large coalition of NGOs is pushing to allow any poorer country to contract for delivery of patented medicines from whomever it chooses.

This article first appeared in the THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Project Update - 14 Nov 2002

United States of America

Drugs for the poor

The Bush administration is resisting the lobbyists' extremism, but it still listens to the industry more than it should. The US president's trade representative, Robert Zoellick, needs to soften the US positions at today's WTO meeting. From a policy point of view, there is no good argument for allowing patents to restrict access to medicine in poor countries and those just climbing out of poverty. Project Update - 14 Nov 2002

Angola

While malnutrition rates decline in Angola, conditions remain severe

Conditions are stabilising in Angola where MSF has been working at a malnutrition crisis, present throughout the country, for the past seven months. However the emergency remains and with the rainy season about to start - bringing inevitable disruptions to food distribution - MSF activity remains high. In addition, preventing measles outbreaks remains a key concern. Project Update - 13 Nov 2002

Honduras

Inroads into care for neglected diseases in Honduras but many still without treatment

On November 11-12, MSF brought together key Honduran actors to improve access to medicines for the population. Project Update - 13 Nov 2002

Thailand

Thailand court forces reversal of drug firm antiretroviral patent

This article first appeared in The A court in Thailand has removed the exclusive right of pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) to manufacture the antiretroviral didanosine (ddI) by ruling that its patent only covered tablets containing 5-100 mg of didanosine. Project Update - 19 Oct 2002

Afghanistan

Outbreak of malaria in Afghan province of Badghis

Project Update - 18 Oct 2002

Democratic Republic of Congo

Cholera spreading rapidly

MSF is increasing awareness campaigns for the local population in the hope of curbing the spread of the disease. Project Update - 18 Oct 2002

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

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We provide medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare. Our teams are made up of tens of thousands of health professionals, logistic and administrative staff - most of them hired locally. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence and impartiality. We are a non-profit, self-governed, member-based organisation.

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