Removing weeds and bushes may not fit exactly into the conventional understanding of what constitutes a healthcare intervention. But when people are facing mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, one of the best approaches is to cut off the threat at the source. In Bolívar state, mosquitoes spread disease and cause dengue fever, which can cause flu-like …
It’s been three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war—which has left thousands dead or injured and millions displaced—has caused severe shortages of basic necessities like food, drinking water, electricity and medical supplies. Attacks targeting healthcare facilities and infrastructure have increased the challenges of providing timely and effective care to the population. Children are …
Families in communities across South Sudan are facing the threat of malnutrition, with an estimated 7.7 million people—57% of the population—at risk for acute food insecurity, according to UNICEF. Ongoing conflict, extreme weather, rising food prices and lack of access to healthcare create a challenging environment in which to raise a family. In the face …
Bringing Clean Water and Warmth to Afghan Children Decades of conflict in Afghanistan has left many children without parents. At the Azad Children Transitional Center, having clean, safe water is essential for the health and well-being of the orphaned children who live there. That’s why International Medical Corps repaired the center’s water supply system, ensuring …
When disaster strikes, International Medical Corps often relies on a roster of skilled volunteers to get on the ground quickly and help us to begin meeting the medical needs of those affected. Our emergency roster has about 120 people who are skilled in a variety of areas and come to us from a variety of …
Part of being a humanitarian organization means putting people at the center of our work. To ensure that we are effectively helping the people we serve, International Medical Corps has community-based feedback and response mechanisms (CBFRM) in place in every country where we operate. CBFRM offer communities safe, accessible and preferred communication channels where they …
Five years ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the world shut down—businesses closed, people who could started working remotely and social events were canceled. Though we have mostly recovered from those dark days, communities are now grappling with new outbreaks of infectious diseases—including cholera, dengue, Ebola and mpox—that pose significant threats to public health. As …
Responding to the Myanmar Earthquake A massive 7.7 earthquake hit Myanmar on March 28, killing more than 3,700 people and injuring thousands more. As recovery efforts continue, some 130 people are still confirmed missing. All these numbers are expected to rise as search teams are better able to reach remote areas affected by the quake. …
It’s flu season again—or is it? Actually, it depends on where you are. In the Northern Hemisphere, flu season is October to May, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s June to October. No matter where you catch it, the flu is caused by a virus—unlike some other respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, which can be …
Tuberculosis—also referred to as TB—is a bacterial infection that can cause serious illness or even death if left untreated. Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease with a variety of symptoms. There are two types of TB, based on the sites of infection: pulmonary TB, which infects the lungs, and extra pulmonary (meaning outside the lungs) …