Doctors Without Borders reflects on cholera outbreak in Kilwa

LINDI: The Doctors without Borders or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has shared first hand experience working with the state medical team in Lindi’s Kilwa district to manage a cholera outbreak which left health services in the area struggling to cope with the rapidly increasing number of patients.

The most seriously affected facility was the Nanjirinji health center. Ester Mtinangi, a nursing team supervisor with MSF, described the situation as “completely overwhelming.”

“We quickly ran out of beds and had to place two patients in one bed to accommodate the influx.” This urgent need for assistance highlighted the limitations of local resources.

Between July and August, the health center admitted up to 44 new cholera patients each week. Many of these individuals, especially children under five, suffered from severe dehydration due to relentless vomiting and diarrhea.

Mtinangi told Daily News reporters at the center that the critical importance of immediate treatment, as the risk of fatalities without care was alarmingly high. MSF’s intervention was crucial.

“When local resources were stretched thin, MSF stepped in with essential medical supplies and additional personnel,” Mtinangi said. The organization helped stabilize the situation and prevent further deaths.

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According to the health practitioner, one particularly challenging case involved a young child in severe distress.

“The situation seemed hopeless, but through the tireless efforts of the MSF doctors, the child survived.” Mtinangi recalled, “It was a struggle for the life-saving.”

Eye witnesses and patients expressed deep gratitude for the care they received. One of the patients who was admitted under MSF care, Asha Abdalah expressed her gratitude to the team of specialists saying she was super ill and “I thought my life was over. The doctors acted quickly, and their care saved my life.

Today, I can smile again and look forward to the future.” Another patient, Hamisi Mashaka, shared his emotional experience after recovering from the outbreak. He said he was taken to the health center at the last minute.

“The MSF doctors never gave up on me. Thanks to them, I am alive today, and I will always be grateful.” MSF maintains that their immediate interventions had focused on preventing further loss of life among vulnerable populations.

“Our efforts focused on the most affected, especially children,” Mtinangi said, highlighting the organization’s commitment to crisis response.

The outbreak and MSF’s response underscore the need for swift, coordinated action in public health emergencies.

MSF reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local health systems and improving preparedness for future emergencies, demonstrating the critical role humanitarian organizations play in addressing urgent health challenges worldwide.