1. Alyssa Govindan
A link to the article I used: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/article/car-msf-
begins-vaccination-campaign-18000-displaced-
violence?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Doct
orsWithoutBordersNews+(Doctors+Without+Borders%2FMédecins+Sans+Frontières+N
ews+Updates)
As violence escalates in the Central African Republic, it is not hard to notice the
abundance of health problems that is consequently arising. A recent article published by
Doctors Without Borders stuck with me after I started to notice a pattern throughout. The
article is titled CAR: MSF Begins Vaccination Campaign for 18,000 Displaced by
Violence and was released on February 25, 2015. MSF began a campaign to vaccinate
around 18,000 children for measles and polio at a camp near Batangafo.
What I found to be so striking was the apparent building up of health issues due to
violent outbreaks by armed militias. The lack of security seems to be an issue related to
multiple health problems. Looting and riots have forced people out of their sheltered
homes and into rudimentary huts. I found it surprising that people willingly left their
sturdy homes to live in poorly constructed huts because they were so afraid that violence
would find them. It put into perspective the severity of the conflict and its affects on
innocent civilians. Neighborhoods have been left empty after virtually every family
turned to the camp to seek safety. On top of military violence, conflict between locals and
northern herdsmen have made matters worse.
The article mentioned that the camp was originally designed for 12,000 people
but is now pushing 35,000 in just two square kilometers. With almost triple the intended
number of people crammed into such a tiny space, it’s not hard to imagine the probability
of disease. The over crowdedness and close proximity leads to health issues because
sanitation is poor and this allows for the spread of contagious diseases.
Besides overcrowding, I noticed that lack of security was causing the majority of
problems in Batangafo.
MSF currently supports five health centers in the surrounding area. However, due
to threat of violence, the organization can’t even manage the outposts so people can’t
receive basic health needs. This is alarming because people literally have nowhere to go
for medical help. Also because the violence has escalated to such a high point, people’s
first priority is to retrieve food, not medical care, so often residents of the camp prolong
seeking medical attention until their condition is severe. Diseases such as malaria,
respiratory infections, and conjunctivitis are prevalent but remain undiagnosed and
untreated due to the violent riots.
MSF announced they want to start vaccines for children immediately after
suspected measles cases threatened to unleash an epidemic in children in the camp. The
campaign is also aimed at providing children with vitamins and treatment against
parasites and strengthening hospital resources. My response to this goal is to question
how the MSF plans to retrieve these resources and implement vaccinations if so many
other basic health needs aren’t being met.
The first time I read the article it appeared that violence was at the heart of all
health problems in the area and was ultimately stagnating any sort of improvement for
conditions. However after reading the article a couple more times, I started to question

2. MSF’s approach to resolving the issue of health needs in Batangafo. It seems that the
MSF, though it has been a prominent organization in the area for over two years, is trying
to swoop in and help people through this one overcrowded camp, which can’t possibly be
a plan for success. This article left me questioning the deeper issues the MSF might be
facing in trying to get the residents the basic health care that they need. If problems such
as malaria are prevalent when they are easily preventable, how is the MSF taking steps to
improve access to treatment for diseases that may not be easily preventable?
I was initially drawn to this article because I didn’t have much previous
knowledge about this situation in CAR and how quickly it was escalating. However it
also made me question the measures that need to be taken to alleviate this situation,
which has displaced entire neighborhoods, and how help has been strategically planned
out in past circumstances where political conflict has had such a large impact.