By: RO Maung Shwe
Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazar – April 2025
In the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, where illness often spreads in silence and treatment arrives too late, a quiet but powerful shift is now underway. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has announced the expansion of its Hepatitis C response—offering new hope to thousands of Rohingya refugees who have waited years for treatment.
New Campaign, Urgent Need
MSF’s updated initiative will provide 30,000 additional treatments across its facilities at Hospital on the Hill (Camp 8W) and Jamtoli Primary Healthcare Centre (Camp 15). The campaign aims to treat over 90% of HCV-positive individuals in its catchment area—a bold step toward eliminating Hepatitis C transmission within the camps.
Since 2020, MSF has led the charge in diagnosing and managing Hepatitis C, offering free screening and limited treatment. A 2024 MSF study revealed a staggering 20% infection rate among adult Rohingya—a health emergency hidden in plain sight.
Fatema Khatun: “This Time, I May Finally Heal”
Fatema Khatun, 36, a mother of five, learned she was HCV-positive four months ago. “Since the diagnosis, our family has lived in fear,” she says. Her husband, a daily laborer, struggles to earn enough for food, let alone medicine.
Fatema tried to access care at MSF France’s hospital in Camp 17 and at the Kutupalong MSF-OCA facility, but she was turned away due to eligibility rules prioritizing patients above 40 or with advanced liver disease. “I fainted from stress,” she recalls. “I was losing hope.”
Now, with MSF opening more treatment slots, Fatema says, “For the first time, I believe I’ll finally get the care I need.”
Mohammed Solim: A Year of Searching Ends in Relief
Mohammed Solim, 29, was diagnosed in late 2024. He visited hospital after hospital, but treatment remained out of reach. “I knocked on many doors, but none opened,” he says.
After hearing about the new MSF campaign, his voice carries something rare in these camps—relief. “It feels like a heavy weight is finally lifting. I can breathe again.”
Nur Kayas: Illness, Stigma, and a Father’s Worry
For 19-year-old Nur Kayas of Camp 15, Hepatitis C was more than a medical diagnosis—it became a source of community stigma. Her father explains, “We visited several health centers. But the treatment never came. Meanwhile, gossip spread. Families came to propose marriage for my daughter—but they turned away after hearing about her condition.”
He notes the lack of strong treatment options in most camps, where basic medicines are prescribed for serious illnesses. “This new step from MSF gives me hope—not just for treatment, but for dignity. Maybe now, my daughter will get a second chance.”
Beyond Medicine: Dignity, Safety, and Hope
For Fatema, Solim, Nur, and many others, this isn’t just about curing a virus—it’s about being seen, heard, and cared for. The new MSF effort, supported by donors and partner organizations, brings renewed trust in a system that often feels distant or inadequate.
As this campaign rolls out, it marks more than a medical achievement—it represents the chance to restore dignity and peace of mind in a place where both are constantly under threat.
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