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. Its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization is known in most of the world by
its localized name or simply as MSF (Médecins
Sans Frontières) the
name Doctors Without Borders is
commonly used.
Prize laureate, best known for its projects in war-torn regions and developing countries facing endemic diseases. Its headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization is known in most of the world by
its localized name or simply as MSF (Médecins
Sans Frontières) the
name Doctors Without Borders is
commonly used.
These
doctors and nurses decided to volunteer their time to solve issues of world
health. The organization is funded by private donors provide about 80% of the
organization’s funding, while governmental and corporate donations provide the
rest.
doctors and nurses decided to volunteer their time to solve issues of world
health. The organization is funded by private donors provide about 80% of the
organization’s funding, while governmental and corporate donations provide the
rest.
Médecins Sans Frontières 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.
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.
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. 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, MSF remains
independent of any political, religious or economic powers.
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. 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, MSF remains
independent of any political, religious or economic powers.
MSF
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.
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 MSF 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.
a field mission is established in a country, an MSF 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.
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.
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.
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.
Although
the medical volunteers almost always receive the most media attention when the
world becomes aware of an MSF 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. 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.
the medical volunteers almost always receive the most media attention when the
world becomes aware of an MSF 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. 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.
