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MSF handbooks
Over the years MSF has produced a collection of useful handbooks and reference books.

The following titles are available:

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Clinical Guidelines: Diagnostic and Treatment Manual

Essential Drugs: Practical Guidelines

Minor Surgical Procedures in Remote Areas

Blood Transfusions in Remote Areas

Obstetrics in Remote Situations

Ophthalmology in Remote Situations

Management of Epidemic Meningoccocal Meningitis

Management of A Measles Epidemic

Rapid Health Assessment of Refugee or Displaced Populations

Public Health Engineering in Emergency Situations

Nutrition Guidelines

Refugee Health in Emergency Situation

Dispensary Guidelines: Installation and Organisation

Practical Guidelines for the Training of Health Personnel

Downloads
Where the selected title is downloadable, there is a download link provided below. The document format
is .pdf. (To view .pdf files, you can use Adobe Reader, .)

The main download page for MSF books is located at the main "MSF Reference Books" page at .

Purchases
If you would like to purchase a hardcopy of one of the books listed below, please contact the following
address:

Médecins Sans Frontières

Service Approvisionnement
8, rue Saint-Sabin
75544 Paris Cedex 11 - France

Tel.: 33 (0) 1 40 21 29 29

Fax : 33 (0) 1 48 06 68 568

E-mail :

Titles

Title:
Clinical Guidelines: Diagnostic and Treatment Manual
Summary: This w ork lists the main diseases encountered by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) since 1971. It is
intended for all medical professionals w orking in hospitals and clinics. The handbook has been
thoroughly researched by taking into account MSF’ experience, recommendations made by reference
organisations such as the WHO, and indications given by specialist w orkers. It has been designed as an
effective and reliable source of information. Curative care is an integral part of medical programmes such
as vaccination, mother-child care, w ater purification, environmental cleaning and nutrition. The manual
can be used as a tool w hen developing a curative care policy.

Available in: English, French, Spanish

Price:

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Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/msf_docs/en/Clinical_Guide/CG_en.pdf

Title:
Essential Drugs: Practical Guidelines
Summary: In remote or precarious conditions medical personnel need direct and simple answ ers that are adapted to
daily practice; this handbook contains these answ ers. It is intended for all levels of health professionals,
physicians, pharmacists, nurses or health auxiliaries w orking in curative care and managing drugs and
medical equipment. Far from claiming to be a pharmacological dictionary, the book tries to respond directly
and simply to the daily problems faced by health personnel by giving practical solutions that have proved
effective to MSF in the field – as w ell as taking into account the recommendations of other reference
organisations such as the WHO. The information supplied on the drug-sheets is adapted to the technical
capabilities of the prescriber.
Available in: English French Spanish Portuguese Russian Arabic
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/msf_docs/en/Essential_drugs/ED_en.pdf

Title:
Minor Surgical Procedures in Remote Areas
Summary: How can w e save lives and improve treatment w ithout technical facilities and the minimum of equipment?
To answ er this question, MSF describes and explains in this guide the essential techniques necessary
for 'minor surgery'. This handbook presents the most common and most useful medico-surgical
techniques that can be easily carried out by a doctor or a nurse w ith advanced training w ho may find
themselves in an isolated health centre w ith no means of evacuating a patient, nor w ith any surgical or
X-ray equipment. Minor surgical treatment in remote areas is also useful for operating assistants, doctors
w orking in emergency units and all health professionals w ho, w ithout being surgeons, are called upon to
carry out w hat is commonly called ‘minor surgery’ in thoroughly aseptic conditions and according to
standard protocols.
Available in: English French Spanish
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

Title:
Blood Transfusions in Remote Areas
Summary: Blood transfusion is a life-saving act that is often considered banal; how ever, there can be very serious,
even fatal, consequences for the receiver. This practical guidebook is designed to provide guidance in
the prescription of blood transfusions, the selection of donors once the decision for a blood transfusion
has been taken, and prevention of risks – particularly infectious diseases (AIDS, hepatitis, syphilis,
malaria, sleeping sickness etc.) - related to the transfusion. This handbook w as compiled for those in
charge of transfusion programmes as w ell as doctors, laboratory technicians and all those involved in
training health w orkers.

Available in: English French

Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

Title:
Obstetrics in Remote Situations
Summary: Mother/child mortality and morbidity in developing countries is outrageously high compared to
industrialised countries. This is due to a multiplicity of cultural, economic, and logistical factors that often
result in a lack of means in both material and human terms. This handbook has been devised w ith a view
to saving a mother and child w hile w orking in an environment that is lacking in medical facilities and
modern infrastructures. It offers tried and tested methods, although the development of technical means
has rendered them obsolete in many industrialised countries. It is intended for non-specialists in remote
areas w ith minimum medical facilities and is not intended to teach obstetrics, but rather to bring
fundamental notions together that area likely to help practitioners w orking in outposts.

Available in: English, French and Spanish

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Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/msf_docs/en/Obstetrics/Obstetrics_en.pdf

Title:
Ophthalmology in Remote Situations
Summary: This handbook is not an extensive textbook on ophthalmology but intends to give practical help to any
personnel faced w ith eye-related diseases. Certain points have intentionally been neglected for the
benefit of other, more essential, ones w ith the intention of being as simple and as efficient as possible.
The indispensable notions of anatomy, physiology and sight are a briefly recalled in the initial chapters.
All eye-related tropical diseases are review ed in this handbook. The chapter entitled “ A few simple
techniques to know ” summarises the techniques that should be used in certain precise circumstances.
The choice of therapy is intentionally limited in order to conform w ith the WHO’s list of essential drugs
and to avoid the mistakes that w ould inevitably be caused by too great a cause.
Available in: French
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

Title:
Management of Epidemic Meningoccocal Meningitis
Summary: The epidemiological factors responsible for menigococcal epidemics are yet to be fully understood.
Nevertheless it is clear that promiscuity, high-population urban areas and poor socio-economic conditions
are favourable grounds for spreading Neisseria meningitis, of w hich humans are the reservoir. In
epidemic situations – w hether rural, urban, among displaced populations or in refugee camps – the main
goal is to reduce the mortality and morbidity related to meningitis. The operational methods are adapted to
the context. This is a short but extremely detailed handbook. It offers a method for determining the
existence of an epidemic, confirming the diagnosis, investigating the epidemic, treating the cases and
implementing a vaccination campaign.
Available in: English French
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/msf_docs/en/Meningitis/Mening_en.pdf

Title:
Management of A Measles Epidemic
Summary: Measles is considered a banal childhood illness in industrialised countries but in developing countries it is
still devastating. This handbook is designed to provide methodology to health staff w orking in measles
epidemics in the field. During an epidemic, the most urgent priority is to prevent the spread of disease and
to reduce morbidity and mortality. The first part of the book covers general clinical and epidemiological
notions as w ell as the investigation of an epidemic w hich serves to identify and set up the most effective
prevention measures. The second part defines the action to be taken: vaccination campaign and
treatment of cases.

Available in: French

Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

Title:
Rapid Health Assessment of Refugee or Displaced Populations
Summary: In order to plan and implement aid for a displaced population, it is essential to assess their health status
and estimate the needs in certain vital areas. This simple and practical guide, draw n from MSF’s and
Epicentre’s experience in the field, is intended for health personnel w ho need to carry out a rapid health
assessment of a refugee or displaced population: data collection and analysis concerning demography,
mortality, morbidity, nutritional and immunisation status as w ell as w ater and food resources etc.
Available in: English only
Price: 8.5 Euros or approx £6

Title:
Public Health Engineering in Emergency Situations

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Summary: Public health engineering comes under the general heading of health and is vital in the prevention of a
number of diseases linked to lack of hygiene, the quality and quantity of w ater, w aste and insect and
rodent vectors. These diseases may not necessarily kill, but they are alw ays responsible for
deterioration in the physical condition of individuals. For long considered as a ‘specialist’s field’, public
health engineering has now become an integral part of preventative measures on par w ith vaccination,
nutrition, mother-child care etc. The handbook includes technical sheets that may be adapted to local
customs as w ell as to the logistical and financial means available in the field. This guide emphasises the
‘three A’s’ for all sanitation installation: socially Acceptable (a good know ledge of the local population
concerned is important), Appropriate (technically w ell adapted) and Affordable (moderate costs).
Available in: English French
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

Title:
Nutrition Guidelines
Summary: Emergency nutrition interventions are among the most vital components of an emergency relief response.
It is nevertheless an extremely complex subject and the form of response depends on many factors.
These guidelines are not supposed to be another academic w ork on nutrition; there are already various
excellent reference w orks available. Neither is it a recipe book to identify each type of nutritional problem
and supply a standardised response. Every programme in each country or region has its ow n
particularities according tot he context. The purpose of this book is to facilitate the simple application of
fundamental principles necessary for the assessment of nutritional programmes in emergency situations.
Available in: English French
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

Title:
Refugee Health in Emergency Situation
Summary: In crisis situations characterised by the massive displacement of populations, there are immense needs
and relatively limited resources. Draw n from MSF’s experience w orking w ith refugees, this operational
manual discusses the priorities of intervention during the different stages of a refugee crisis, from the
acute phase through to the repatriation process. Refugee health in emergency situation is intended for
health personnel as w ell as non-medical staff involved in operational decision levels in this type of
situation.

Available in: English

Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/msf_docs/en/Refugee_Health/RH.pdf

Title:
Dispensary Guidelines: Installation and Organisation
Summary: The organisation of curative care in a health facility is one of the priorities to be rapidly set up in order to
reduce the mortality rate in refugee or displaced populations. This guide is intended for medical personnel
in charge of the organisation of a dispensary in an emergency context (consultations and referrals;
management of personnel, materials and drugs; hygiene of materials and facilities; epidemiological
surveillance etc.) It is designed above all for the emergency phase, but also offers advice that is useful
for the post-emergency phase. The guide includes various forms in annex (individual health card,
surveillance forms etc.) as w ell as a description of tasks for the different types of personnel. These
annexes can be adapted to the various needs in the field are also available on disquette PC, Window s
95, Word 7.0: the disquette is integrated into the guide so as to facilitate immediate printing.
Available in: English
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

Title:
Practical Guidelines for the Training of Health Personnel
Summary: This guide is designed for physicians and health personnel in charge of training and supervising local
staff. It can also be used by non-medical staff w ho are interested in training programmes as the idea to

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give direction and structure the setting up of a programme. Moreover, the training methodology can be
used w hatever the field to be taught. Each chapter is independent, how ever, w hen designing a full
programme, it is recommended that all chapters be read in the order presented. The vocabulary w hich is
used in this guide is simple and precise, It is necessary to have a good command of this specific
vocabulary w hen referring to training programmes. Numerous examples from the field are also included
in this guide and can be found in the annexes.
Available in: English, French, Spanish
Price:
Dow nload link: http://w w w .refbooks.msf.org/MSF_Docs/en/MSFdocMenu_en.htm

MSF UK English Registered Charity No. 1026588 © Crow n Copyright 2006

by Chameleon

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