The Timbuktu region of Mali has been tense since the official end of the war there in 2015. The lack of security has threatened access to healthcare, including routine vaccinations. Luckily, Doctors Without Borders identified this problem when measles cases began popping up in February. Doctors Without Borders set up a vaccination campaign in many of the areas of Timbuktu in September. They were able to vaccinate 50,000 kids across these areas. This campaign occurred during the rainy season, making many areas accessible only by water. Additionally, the measles vaccine must be kept at very cold temperatures during transportation.
Despite these challenge, Doctors Without Borders was able to send teams to schools and local health clinics in urban and rural areas. Children are at risk in these areas because malnutrition and malaria are common and are devastating when combined with measles. Mothers there recognize the rash and fever of measles, and are highly motivated to get their children vaccinated. They understand that preventing the disease is far better than attempting to treat it.
-Olivia
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-stories/story/prevention-better-cure-vaccinating-against-measles-mali
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