European Parliament calls for Russia to pursue the release of kidnapped MSF volunteer, Arjan Erkel

MSF has launched an international campaign for the release of the MSF volunteer Arjan Erkel. Project Update - 26 Jan 2003

United States of America

Whose interests does the World Trade Organization serve?

Those who support increasing access to medicines for the poor have lost, for now, to those more interested in protecting the patents owned by the US pharmaceutical industry. Project Update - 25 Jan 2003

Chad

MSF increases assistance to refugee flow into Chad

Outside the main reception camps, more refugees are scattered throughout the surrounding areas and many are seeking refuge in the bush land. Project Update - 23 Jan 2003

Uzbekistan

Full TB coverage in Khorezm region of Uzbekistan

MSF has finalised the expansion of the treatment programme for tuberculosis (TB) in Khorezm oblast, Uzbekistan. Project Update - 23 Jan 2003

Mozambique

The milk of human kindness: Artifical milk feeding in Mozambique

In Mozambique, exclusive feeding of babies by artificial milk is rare and is associated with illness and bad mothering. If a relative sees a mother with formula, it might raise some dangerous questions. But feeding by artifical milk may be essential in stemming the increase of mother-to-child transmission in the country. Project Update - 23 Jan 2003

Russia

The 'bomzhi' - homeless in Moscow

Moscow's homeless, numbering close to 100,000, are trying to survive in conditions where temperatures regularly fall below minus 30 celcius. They are considered vagrants and criminals; are deprived shelter and basic care; and often die in the streets without anyone noticing. MSF's homeless campaign is bringing essential attention these people during the freezing Russian winter. Project Update - 21 Jan 2003

China

Urgent appeal for the protection of North Korean refugees in China

The humanitarian aid workers who attempt to rescue North Korean refugees face the brutal determination of the Chinese authorities, who deem the assistance of North Korean refugees as a criminal offense... Predictably, in this context, support for North Korean refugees in distress is diminishing and assisting them has become a challenge that increasingly few aid organizations, crushed by this sanction policy, are able to undertake. Press Release - 20 Jan 2003

Brazil

New MSF project starts in Rio de Janeiro slum

MSF is opening a clinic in the Marcilio Dias slum, north of Rio de Janeira, Brazil, to improve access to primary health care and psychosocial support for the local community. Project Update - 17 Jan 2003

Access to medicines

MSF calls to WHO's attention outstanding issues on access to medicines

MSF continues its strong collaborations with the WHO in a number of areas germane to this crisis in Research and Development (R&D). Project Update - 17 Jan 2003

South Africa

With all his life: South Africa's hero

Zackie Achmat is an AIDS activist in South Africa who is the leader of the South African NGO 'Treatment Action Campaign' (TAC) as well as one of the key persons working alongside MSF in the development of treatment for people with AIDS in South Africa. He has refused to take any treatment for his HIV/AIDS condition until everyone in South Africa can. In this profile carried in the International Herald Tribune, we see more on the man Nelson Mandela has called his 'hero'. Project Update - 16 Jan 2003

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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