Doctors Without Borders

Of all humanitarian aid organizations around the world, they stand out, highly respected and distinguished.

You must have heard of them, they're all over the mass media. With branches in over 60 countries around the world, their impacts have been felt and millions of lives have been touched.

                                     WHO ARE THEY?

Doctors Without Borders OR Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) 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.

Médecins Sans Frontières was created in 1971, in the aftermath of the Biafra secession, by the efforts of a small group of 12 dedicated 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.

                               HOW THEY IMPACT OUR WORLD

• MSF field staff worldwide give lifesaving medical and technical assistance to people who would otherwise be denied access to basics such as healthcare, clean water and shelter. Annually, around 3,000 international volunteers join local staff helping populations in danger.

• They volunteer to help (despite been aware of the risks and dangers of the missions they undertake, and no right to compensation for themselves or their beneficiaries).

• MSF brings humanitarian medical assistance to victims of conflict, natural disasters, epidemics or healthcare exclusion.

• They offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centres, and provide mental healthcare.

• Their activities include the treatment of injuries and diseases, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, they set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

Visit  MSF Activities for more details on this.

For their extraordinary humanitarian efforts, Doctors Without Borders was awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize on October 15. The award honors the organization's "pioneering humanitarian work on several continents" and adherence to the "fundamental principle that all disaster victims, whether the disaster is natural or human in origin, have a right to professional assistance, given as quickly and efficiently as possible. Each fearless and self-sacrificing helper shows each victim a human face, stands for respect for that person's dignity, and is a source of hope for peace and reconciliation."

These doctors and nurses decided to volunteer their time to solve issues of world health. They help people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from health care.

For the fullest details, visit: Doctors Without Borders

RESOURCES:
Wikipedia
Doctors Without Borders
Virtual Mentor