In the Central African Republic, the EURECA team of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) played a pivotal role in strengthening their response to health emergencies in 2025. This team, established in January 2014 and based in Bangui, is a mobile emergency response unit dedicated to monitoring, investigating, and swiftly addressing medical and humanitarian crises across the country, even in the most remote and challenging-to-reach areas.
The year 2025 was marked by a robust operational response, with ten health and humanitarian emergency alerts monitored nationwide, leading to six exploration and investigation missions. These missions were strategically conducted in various locations, including Birao, Gamboula, Kabo, Zemio, Bozoum, and Bocaranga.
In Birao, the team addressed yellow fever and whooping cough alerts, while in Gamboula, they tackled a measles epidemic. Kabo saw interventions for both measles and meningitis outbreaks. Zemio and Bozoum were targeted for displacement-related issues, and Bocaranga reported suspected cases of measles and other potentially epidemic diseases.
These investigations were instrumental in guiding the medical response and triggering two significant interventions in Gamboula and Kabo, executed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population (MSP).
The interventions in Gamboula and Kabo showcased the critical importance of a rapid, mobile, and well-coordinated response capacity. In Gamboula, the team vaccinated 19,721 children against measles, repaired boreholes, and rehabilitated the district hospital's waste management area. They also ensured the safe disposal of waste from vaccination activities and referred 16 patients to appropriate healthcare facilities.
Kabo witnessed a three-round multi-antigen vaccination campaign, with 11,242 children vaccinated against measles, 6,587 against meningitis, 3,995 against yellow fever, and 1,147 pregnant women receiving the tetanus vaccine. Simultaneously, 15,541 children aged six months to five years underwent nutritional screening. The team also supported the rehabilitation of the hospital's waste disposal area, trained hygienists, donated personal protective equipment, and facilitated the repair and installation of solar refrigerators and freezers in several health facilities.
The impact of these interventions was immediate for the communities. A mother from Kabo, who had her child vaccinated, expressed relief, stating, 'We were worried before the team arrived because of the disease. Today, my child is vaccinated, and I feel reassured. Without this campaign, many children would have remained unprotected.'
Despite the challenging humanitarian situation in the country, which is not expected to improve in 2026, EURECA will continue to provide rapid response support for health emergencies across the Central African Republic, especially in the most isolated and difficult-to-reach areas. With reduced funding and a history of low vaccination coverage, MSF remains committed to protecting vulnerable communities from preventable diseases and strengthening epidemiological surveillance in areas with limited healthcare access.
