MSF teams face obstacles providing medical care to communities in Rakhine state

Public healthcare facilities no longer function

Since the resumption of the conflict, many health workers have left their jobs in public healthcare facilities, mostly due to safety and security issues. This has forced some facilities to close completely. Those that are still open struggle to function due to shortages of staff, medical supplies and fuel. Electricity networks no longer supply power in Rakhine, so health facilities depend on generators, but fuel to run them is not easily available due to supply routes being disrupted or cut off, impacting their ability to perform medical procedures. 

Lack of phone signal makes teleconsultations challenging 

To reach patients, MSF medical teams provide consultations by telephone or text message. However, this also poses a challenge, because phone networks are often disrupted, resulting in intermittent and very weak phone coverage across many areas. Patients and community volunteers often need to walk long distances or climb hills to try and get a phone signal.  

“Teleconsultations means a lot to the people since this is the only contact left between the community and MSF,” says Caroline de Cramer, the outgoing project medical adviser. “When patients can reach out to a nurse, health promotion officer, or doctor, it is a form of mental health support. It’s only way for them to feel that they are not forgotten, that we are still present, and that they can count on us.”