MSF Innovation Newsletter July 2022
The impact of climate change on mental health
There is growing evidence of the various mechanisms by which climate change is affecting mental health. Last month, the WHO published a policy brief, calling for the integration of climate change considerations into policies and programmes for mental health and vice versa.
Even without climate change, the situation for mental health globally is already challenging. In many countries, large gaps exist between mental health needs and the services and systems available to address them. In fact, most people with mental disorders do not receive any care. Studies show that this is particularly true in low- and middle-income countries, where less than 20% report receiving adequate mental health services.
In Durban, South Africa, following devastating floods in April 2022, the need for counselling among people affected by the crisis quickly outstripped the available mental health resources. In response to this situation, MSF’s mental health team has been bringing music to some of the community halls and churches in which those who lost their homes in the flooding are sheltering. The musical interventions are part of MSF's broader medical and mental health strategy. Read more about this and other innovative programmes from across MSF in the Innovation Updates section of this newsletter.
As always, we have also collected additional humanitarian and planetary health innovation insights in the Resource Highlights section.
We hope you enjoy the read!
Innovation updates from the MSF movement
Music – medicine a doctor can't prescribe
On 11-13 April, severe flooding and landslides caused by heavy rainfall affected southern and south-eastern South Africa, particularly the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. According to national authorities, more than 450 people lost their lives and over 40,000 were left homeless.
MSF’s mental health team has been bringing music to some of the community halls and churches in which those who lost their homes have been sheltering. The musical interventions are part of a broader medical and mental health strategy that seeks to address the immediate healthcare needs of shelter residents and provide ongoing mental health support.
“The programme was co-developed with the shelter residents, they shaped the structure of the program and came with suggestions for songs to be included. Overnight, many people had gone from having work and being self-sufficient to staying in the shelters and depending on others for almost everything. One rationale of the intervention was to give them back some control,” says Sean Christie, MSF’s Emergency Team Coordinator in Durban.
Read more about how a serendipitous meeting between Sean Christie and Menzi Mngoma, a self-taught opera singer from KwaZulu-Natal, planted the seed for the musical programme here »
Launch of the SEEAP (Southeast & East Asia Pacific) Supply Unit
According to data from 2020, nearly 80% of all medical items used by MSF come from Europe. Diversifying our supply chain and using multiple suppliers in different regions can make us less vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and reduce transport costs and emissions.
In May 2019, one of MSF’s European Supply Centres (ESCs) - MSF Logistique - and MSF Japan Innovation Unit (JIU) launched the Asia Procurement Pilot Project to explore four Asian markets (China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand), assess sourcing opportunities from these markets, and identify potential new procurement sources that offer sustainable supply and cost.
One main concern of procuring medical items in the region relates to quality, but the project found that these countries are getting more and more aligned with international standards and already have several manufacturers who export their products to highly regulated countries, including the US and several European countries. This shows that there may be manufacturers who could pass MSF’s qualification scheme in the region.
The first project phase, which received funding from MSF Transformation Investment Capacity (TIC), was completed in June 2021. Based on the findings of this initial phase, the project has evolved in 2022 into the SEEAP (Southeast and East Asia Pacific) Supply Unit and is expanding to include dedicated sourcing specialists in China and Korea. Through 2023, the Supply Unit will deepen MSF’s knowledge of potential suppliers in Asia, and work with the ESCs to scale-up sourcing in the region.
For more information about the project, check out the pilot project page on JIU’s webpage or email Judy Lam (judy.lam@seeap.msf.org), Medical Products Specialist, MSF Japan.
COVID-19 Nurse Aides Programme in Southern Africa
MSF teams have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world, including in the Southern Africa region. During the second wave in January 2021, MSF carried out an exploratory assessment at hospitals providing care for COVID-19 patients in Lesotho. The exploratory team observed that there were no nurse aides on the COIVD-19 wards and that healthcare teams were understaffed and overworked. As a result, nurses and medical doctors prioritized skilled tasks, such as medication administration, over more basic care, such as changing bed linen and helping patients get dressed, go to the toilet and eat and drink. These basic care tasks, typically performed by nurse aides, are essential to patient experience and quality of care.
In response to the situation in the hospitals, MSF designed a COVID-19 nurse aides training programme, which was piloted in Lesotho between February and March 2021 and later expanded to South Africa and Zimbabwe. The training package consisted of short presentations, practical demonstrations of tasks and direct supervision by a nurse supervisor.
This innovative training programme was appreciated by both staff and patients and can be adapted to other emergency contexts where MSF responds, such as in Ebola and Cholera treatment centres.
For more information, check out the COVID-19 Nurse Aides Training Programme entry on the MSF Science Portal or watch the 10-minute video presentation from this year’s MSF Scientific Days International.
You are invited to the MSF Scientific Days International event on 10-12 May 2022.
MSF Scientific Days brings together MSF staff, researchers, innovators, medical practitioners and patient representatives to discuss and critique the latest research and innovative practices emerging from our projects. View the agenda here »
Resource highlight
Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its largest review of mental health since the turn of the century. The “World Mental Health Report” discusses how climate change, biodiversity and habitat loss, exploitation or pollution can undermine mental health – with people living in low-resource settings experiencing the greatest risk.
However, the report also makes good on its promise to inspire and inform better mental health for all, showcasing numerous examples of good practices from around the world, including a series of innovation case studies.
Further reading recommendations:
Mental Health and Climate Change: Policy Brief
Climate change exacerbates many social, environmental and economic risk factors for problems in mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. In this WHO policy brief, the organization calls for the need to integrate climate change considerations into policies and programmes for mental health. Read more »The Humanitarian Sector Needs Clear Job Profiles for Climate Science Translators – Now More than Ever
As the climate crisis deepens, the need for people who can bridge the gap between scientific data and actionable knowledge will grow. In an article published in American Met Society, Markus Enenkel and Andrew Kruczkiewicz examine a new role emerging within the humanitarian sector: Climate Science Translators. Read more »IFRC Solferino Academy Launches the Data Playbook
Developed by Red Cross Red Crescent staff, the Data Playbook is designed to help humanitarians and their teams improve their data literacy. The playbook compiles 120 tested exercises, games, scenarios and checklists for humanitarians and their teams to explore, learn and discuss all aspects of the data lifecycle. Read more »How Climate Data Scarcity Costs Lives
Roughly half the world’s countries do not have multi-hazard early warning systems, according to the UN’s World Meteorological Organization. Localised data can help governments project climate forecasts, prepare for disasters as early as possible, and create long-term policies for adapting to climate change. In this piece published in The New Humanitarian, Paula Dupraz-Dobias discusses the importance of access to climate data and weather forecasting services, and the dire consequences of the lack of access to this type of innovative technology. Read more »
In our headphones
ICRC Humanitarian Law and Policy Blog
The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organization, one year on
The Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organizations aims to steer and galvanize a collective humanitarian response to the climate and environmental crises. One year after the Charter was opened for signature, colleagues from the IFRC and ICRC reflect on the progress made as well as the need to maintain momentum and step up action. Listen here »
Editor's note: MSF signed the Charter in March this year, read the statement here »
The New Humanitarian | Fixing Aid
6-episode series
Last month, The New Humanitarian aired the final episode in their 6-episode podcast series exploring innovations across the emergency aid sector. Hosted by Alae Ismail, each episode focuses on people, projects, organisations, or start-ups working in new and creative ways to improve the lives of those affected by conflict and disaster. Listen to the series here »
Until next time 👋
As always we would love to hear of any global health innovation insights or thoughts. Anything you would like to feature in the next newsletter? Reach out with any questions or comments on comms.siu@stockholm.msf.org or simply reply to this email—we would be delighted to continue the conversation!
Best wishes,
The MSF Sweden Innovation Unit Team