A Sudanese Pharmacist’s Humanitarian Journey with MSF
Tanzeel Elgorashi, a Sudanese pharmacist, has always carried with her a passion for helping others. Her work in community health and pharmacy management was never just about giving out medicine or offering advice to patients — it came from a deep belief that healthcare is a basic human right.
“Many people around the world are deprived of the simplest forms of healthcare,” she says. “I always wanted to use my skills to serve communities facing health crises. Joining MSF gave me the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
From the Pharmacy to the Field
Tanzeel first worked with MSF through a partnership project, managing the pharmacy for a children’s home in Khartoum. At that time, she wasn’t directly employed by the organization. On August 13, 2025, she officially joined MSF as an international mobile staff. Her first assignment was in Renk, South Sudan, where she became the pharmacy manager for the project.
She prepared for this step carefully — learning the organization’s protocols on emergency response and medicine supply chains and familiarizing herself with the local context and cultural norms.
In Renk, she was responsible for making sure medicines were available and properly distributed, working with medical teams during outbreaks like cholera and malaria, and keeping supply chains running in a resource-scarce environment.
How the War Changed Everything
When war broke out in Sudan, Tanzeel’s life was turned upside down. She tried to stay in safer areas, but the conflict kept spreading. Eventually, she was forced to leave Sudan and move to Egypt. Even before the war, the children’s home pharmacy in Khartoum struggled with limited supplies. But once the fighting began, the situation became desperate — she was the only pharmacist left, witnessing severe and ongoing medicine shortages.
Moments She’ll Never Forget
One of the hardest moments she faced was in September, when a young boy was brought in after a dog bite. His mother had delayed taking him to the clinic, and although the vaccine was available, it was too late to save him. “Ignorance can cost lives,” Tanzeel says sadly. “The problem wasn’t the lack of medicine, but the delay in getting treatment. Awareness is just as important as having a medical team in place.” She believes public health education is crucial. Without it, even the best medical teams can’t save lives in time.
Lessons Learned
Although her time working directly with MSF before her mission was short, Tanzeel felt at home in South Sudan. Being Sudanese herself, she understood the challenges deeply. She knows future missions in other countries may be more difficult, but she’s ready for them.
She also stresses the critical role of pharmacists in crises: “The most important thing is to make sure life-saving medicines are available when needed. Without medicine, even the best medical team can’t function.”
From Egypt to International Missions
After seeking refuge in Egypt, Tanzeel began a new phase in her career. Through the MSF office in Cairo, she joined the organization’s international mobile staff as a pharmacy manager. This was a turning point — it allowed her to continue helping communities in urgent need of healthcare.
A Message of Humanity
Tanzeel ends her story with a message of hope: “Humanitarian healthcare isn’t just about medicine. It’s about solidarity, dignity, and humanity. Even in the darkest times, there is hope and resilience. Every small effort makes a difference. Your support keeps our hands extended to save more lives.”