Basic Info & History

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, “Doctors Without Borders”) began working in Tanzania in 1993.

Their focus includes emergency medical aid, outbreak response, refugee health, maternal and child health, and support to surrounding host communities.

Key Areas of Operation

Refugee Camps
MSF has operated in camps hosting Burundian and Congolese refugees, particularly in the Kigoma region (such as Nduta, Nyarugusu, and Mtendeli).

Services provided include:

Basic healthcare and treatment of common illnesses

Malaria prevention and treatment, including indoor spraying campaigns

Water, sanitation, and hygiene support

Disease Outbreak Response
MSF supports Tanzania during epidemics, most recently responding to the Marburg virus outbreak in Kagera region. They also strengthen surveillance and preparedness for malaria, diarrhoeal diseases, and other epidemic-prone illnesses.

Maternal, Prenatal, and Child Health
MSF runs health services and awareness programs around prenatal care, safe deliveries, and child health. These services are offered in refugee camps as well as surrounding communities.

Host Communities
In addition to refugees, MSF provides medical services to Tanzanians living near the camps, reducing pressure on the local health system.

Recent Developments (2024–2025)

In 2024, MSF maintained broad operations in Tanzania: providing healthcare for refugees and host communities, supporting outbreak responses, and delivering maternal and child healthcare.

In early 2025, MSF was part of the national response to the Marburg virus outbreak in Kagera. Tanzania later declared the outbreak over after no new cases were detected for more than 40 days.

Impact & Challenges

Impact:

Large-scale malaria prevention campaigns have reduced disease among refugees and nearby populations.

Health services in refugee camps help relieve pressure on overstretched local facilities.

During outbreaks, MSF’s support with detection, treatment, and public health measures helps stop the spread of diseases.

Challenges:

Operations often take place in remote and resource-limited settings.

Balancing the needs of both refugees and local communities is a constant challenge.

Accessing mothers and children with sufficient prenatal and postnatal care remains difficult due to barriers like distance, infrastructure, and awareness.