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MSF Paediatric Days: a step forward in operationalising 'Humanitarian Paediatrics'
Sophie Janet1, Neal Russell2, Nikola Morton3
1Medical Department, Médecins Sans Frontières, Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Paediatric Days advance child healthcare in crisis zones. This forum shares frontline research and experiences to improve humanitarian paediatric and neonatal care globally.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Humanitarian Medicine
- Paediatric Care
Background:
- Children in conflict zones face significant healthcare challenges.
- Limited medical literature exists for resource-limited humanitarian settings.
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) established Paediatric Days to address these gaps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To unite experts for advancing humanitarian paediatric and neonatal care.
- To facilitate exchange of frontline research and experiences.
- To foster collaboration among field staff, policymakers, and academia.
Main Methods:
- The MSF Paediatric Days is a regular 2-day event since 2016.
- The 2021 edition focused on essential newborn care, community-based care, paediatric tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, and COVID-19's impact.
- Included virtual stands, poster communications, and short talks (PAEDTalks).
Main Results:
- The event covered critical topics in humanitarian child health.
- Showcased 49 poster communications and 5 PAEDTalks.
- Facilitated networking and idea exchange among diverse participants.
Conclusions:
- MSF Paediatric Days is a vital forum for humanitarian paediatrics.
- It promotes knowledge advancement and collective learning.
- Creates essential networking opportunities for improving child health in crises.
Abstract:
Around the world, one in four children live in a country affected by conflict, political insecurity and disaster. Healthcare in humanitarian and fragile settings is challenging and complex to provide, particularly for children. Furthermore, there is a distinct lack of medical literature from humanitarian settings to guide best practice in such specific and resource-limited contexts. In light of these challenges, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international medical humanitarian organisation, created the MSF Paediatric Days with the aim of uniting field staff, policymakers and academia to exchange ideas, align efforts, inspire and share frontline research and experiences to advance humanitarian paediatric and neonatal care. This 2-day event takes place regularly since 2016. The fourth edition of the MSF Paediatric Days in April 2021 covered five main topics: essential newborn care, community-based models of care, paediatric tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance in neonatal and paediatric care and the collateral damage of COVID-19 on child health. In addition, eight virtual stands from internal MSF initiatives and external MSF collaborating partners were available, and 49 poster communications and five inspiring short talks referred to as 'PAEDTalks' were presented. In conclusion, the MSF Paediatric Days serves as a unique forum to advance knowledge on humanitarian paediatrics and creates opportunities for individual and collective learning, as well as networking spaces for interaction and exchange of ideas.