Health Under Pressure: Stories from Three Ongoing Crises

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In global health, we often talk about systems, access, and resilience but behind these concepts are real people navigating extraordinary challenges. Across the world, many regions are experiencing  humanitarian and health emergencies. Below are three current situations that illustrate how fragile health systems, conflict, and climate events intersect to shape the realities of care delivery.

These are just a few among many and this post is simply an invitation to reflect, learn more, and support where possible.

🇹🇿 Tanzania: Marburg Virus Contained, but Risks Remain

On 13 March 2025, Tanzania declared the end of a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak. In total, there were 10 deaths all within the Kagera region. The outbreak was contained through a swift response involving the Ministry of Health, WHO, and partner agencies.

While the immediate risk has passed, the potential for re-emergence remains, given the presence of an animal reservoir. The situation highlights the ongoing importance of surveillance systems, health workforce readiness, and community engagement in outbreak preparedness and response.

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🇲🇲 Myanmar: Health Needs Rising Amid Conflict and Climate Threats

Myanmar is currently ranked third on the IRC’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist, as conflict continues to expand across the country. As of 2024, over 3 million people have been displaced, with 900,000 newly displaced in that year alone. Civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and water systems, has been damaged, leading to disease outbreaks that the health system is struggling to contain.

Combined with climate-related risks like floods and cyclones, the crisis presents layered challenges for health delivery. Access constraints, bureaucratic hurdles, and insecurity further complicate the ability of humanitarian actors to provide aid.

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🇵🇸 Gaza: Health Services Under Extreme Pressure

In Gaza, only 21 of 36 hospitals remain partially functional. Following a recent strike on Al Ahli Hospital, essential infrastructure including pharmacies and treatment wards has been severely damaged. Medical supplies are critically low, and health workers continue operating under extreme conditions amid ongoing mass casualty events.

According to UN OCHA and WHO, more than 50,000 people have died since the start of the conflict on 18th March, with over 115,000 injured. The aid blockade has left hospitals overwhelmed and thousands without access to food, shelter, or basic care.

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🔎 Why This Matters

These situations are vastly different in their context but from a global health perspective, they share common threads:

  • Fragile health systems under stress

  • Critical importance of health worker safety

  • Barriers to humanitarian access and supply delivery

  • Intersections of health, conflict, and climate

There are many more crises not covered here  from Sudan and the DRC to Haiti and Afghanistan. Each requires coordinated, evidence-informed, and equity-driven responses.

This is not a call for blame. It’s a call for awareness  and, where possible, for action.

If you're able, please read further, share accurate information, and support trusted humanitarian efforts. Our understanding and solidarity matter.

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