MSF (Médecins
Sans Frontières) popularly known as Doctors Without Borders is a French-founded
(now international and federal) humanitarian-aid non-governmental
organization and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, best known for its projects in
war-torn regions and developing countries
facing endemic diseases.
The organization is funded by private donors provide about 80% of the
organization’s funding, while governmental and corporate donations provide the
rest. Its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. These doctors and
nurses decided to volunteer their time to solve issues of world health.
Sans Frontières) popularly known as Doctors Without Borders is a French-founded
(now international and federal) humanitarian-aid non-governmental
organization and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, best known for its projects in
war-torn regions and developing countries
facing endemic diseases.
The organization is funded by private donors provide about 80% of the
organization’s funding, while governmental and corporate donations provide the
rest. Its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. These doctors and
nurses decided to volunteer their time to solve issues of world health.
The humanitarian organization, Doctors Without
Borders was created in 1971, in the aftermath of the Biafra secession,
by a small group of French doctors and journalists who believed that all people
have the right to medical care regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation, and that the
needs of these people outweigh respect for national borders. Doctors Without Borders has general consultative status with the United Nations
Economic and Social Council. It received the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of
its members’ continued efforts to provide medical care in acute crises, as well
as raising international awareness of potential humanitarian disasters.
Borders was created in 1971, in the aftermath of the Biafra secession,
by a small group of French doctors and journalists who believed that all people
have the right to medical care regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation, and that the
needs of these people outweigh respect for national borders. Doctors Without Borders has general consultative status with the United Nations
Economic and Social Council. It received the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of
its members’ continued efforts to provide medical care in acute crises, as well
as raising international awareness of potential humanitarian disasters.
Before
a field mission is established in a country, an Doctors Without Borders team visits the area to determine the
nature of the humanitarian emergency, the level of safety in the area and what
type of aid is needed. Medical aid is the main objective of most missions,
although some missions help in such areas as water purification and nutrition. Only
once in its history, during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,
has the organization called for military intervention. In order to be able to
speak and act freely, Doctors Without
Borders remains independent of any political, religious or economic
powers. The organization actively provides health care and medical training to
populations in about 70 countries and frequently insists on political
responsibility in conflict zones such as Chechnya and Kosovo.
a field mission is established in a country, an Doctors Without Borders team visits the area to determine the
nature of the humanitarian emergency, the level of safety in the area and what
type of aid is needed. Medical aid is the main objective of most missions,
although some missions help in such areas as water purification and nutrition. Only
once in its history, during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda,
has the organization called for military intervention. In order to be able to
speak and act freely, Doctors Without
Borders remains independent of any political, religious or economic
powers. The organization actively provides health care and medical training to
populations in about 70 countries and frequently insists on political
responsibility in conflict zones such as Chechnya and Kosovo.
They
are responsible for providing everything that the medical component of a
mission needs, ranging from security and vehicle maintenance to food and
electricity supplies. They may be engineers and/or foremen, but they usually
also help with setting up treatment centres and supervising local staff. Other
non-medical staff are water/sanitation specialists, who are usually experienced
engineers in the fields of water treatment and management and
financial/administration experts who are placed with field missions. Although
the medical volunteers almost always receive the most media attention when the
world becomes aware of Doctors Without
Borders field mission, there are a number of non-medical volunteers who
help keep the field mission functioning. Logisticians are often the most
important members of a team.
are responsible for providing everything that the medical component of a
mission needs, ranging from security and vehicle maintenance to food and
electricity supplies. They may be engineers and/or foremen, but they usually
also help with setting up treatment centres and supervising local staff. Other
non-medical staff are water/sanitation specialists, who are usually experienced
engineers in the fields of water treatment and management and
financial/administration experts who are placed with field missions. Although
the medical volunteers almost always receive the most media attention when the
world becomes aware of Doctors Without
Borders field mission, there are a number of non-medical volunteers who
help keep the field mission functioning. Logisticians are often the most
important members of a team.
A
field mission team usually consists of a small number of coordinators to head
each component of a field mission, and a “head of mission.” The head
of mission usually has the most experience in humanitarian situations of the
members of the team, and it is his/her job to deal with the media, national
governments and other humanitarian organisations. Medical volunteers include
physicians, surgeons, nurses, and various other specialists. In addition to
operating the medical and nutrition components of the field mission, these
volunteers are sometimes in charge of a group of local medical staff and
provide training for them.
field mission team usually consists of a small number of coordinators to head
each component of a field mission, and a “head of mission.” The head
of mission usually has the most experience in humanitarian situations of the
members of the team, and it is his/her job to deal with the media, national
governments and other humanitarian organisations. Medical volunteers include
physicians, surgeons, nurses, and various other specialists. In addition to
operating the medical and nutrition components of the field mission, these
volunteers are sometimes in charge of a group of local medical staff and
provide training for them.