Mauritania News

Mbera – Every year on 19 August, the world celebrates World Humanitarian Day to honour the women and men who, often in difficult conditions, devote their lives to helping others. This year's theme, “Strengthening global solidarity and empowering local communities,” focused on recognizing the critical role of local actors in humanitarian response. 

Mberra Camp – When children in Mberra refugee camp began arriving at health posts with sore throats, low-grade fevers and swollen necks early this year, health workers feared the worst. Within days, breathing difficulties and the tell-tale thick grey coating in some throats confirmed an outbreak of diphtheria.

Mberra – In the remote southeastern corner of Mauritania, more than 60 000 Malian refugees displaced by conflict are rebuilding their lives. Until recently, a medical emergency in the Mberra refugee camp meant a race against time. 

With the nearest hospital in Bassiknou, over 60 kilometres away, and no available ambulance, pregnant women and critically-ill patients were forced to make the journey on motorcycles and donkey carts, often with tragic results.

Nouakchott – Mauritania has witnessed a significant decline in leprosy cases in recent years thanks to sustained efforts that have led to improvements in prevention, detection and treatment. Only 17 new cases were recorded in 2023 compared with 42 reported in 2010.

Nouakchott – Ifrah, 36, started smoking at just 13 years of age and never thought he would ever quit. Smoking was common in his home neighbourhood of Cansado in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, and he simply followed by example. “For me, smoking meant being trendy and mature. But that was just an illusion,” he says.

Nouakchott – In late August 2022 Mauritania’s health authorities received reports of several cases of miscarriage among camel herds in the southern Boutilimit Valley region. Within less than 24 hours, three emergency teams had been dispatched to respond to the alert.

Ben Zaid Hospital welcomed on Monday, October 11, an emergency medical team from the UK MED, through the Secretariat Emergency Medical Team (EMT) of the World Health Organization (WHO). The deployment of this team follows a request from the Ministry of Health to support the country's efforts to manage severe cases of COVID-19 and to help strengthen the skills of local national teams.