Question

NGO Médecins Sans Frontières

(The doctors without borders is officially known as Medicine sans frontieres is an NGO of French origin best known for its project in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic disease.)

write a non-governmental organization (NGO) that operates in the health sector. Research the Médecins Sans Frontières organization that you plan to write about for this . NGOs websites or other publications are a good place to start, however, your research should include more sources than just an organization's website.

Answer 1

Médecins sans Frontières ( English - Doctors without borders) is an international organization, that provides medical assistance to people suffering due to war or natural disasters. The organization is worldwide movement of 28 offices worldwide. All these national and regional associations are bound together as MSF International. MSF has worked in more than 70 countries. This Organization has headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The organization was awarded the 1999 Nobel Prize for Peace.

MSF is an independent and medical humanitarian organisation. It is a private and not-for-profit entity. This organization provides emergency medical assistance to people in danger in many countries in Africa, North and Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East conflict zone. It assists those whose existence is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, poor health care or natural calamaties. They provide assistance to those who need it most . The organization is vocal when it comes to bringing world attention to crises situations, to challenge inadequacies or abuse in the system and to advocate for improved medical facilities. When large-scale epidemics or pandemics occur, even in the most risky and remote locations, the MSF's medical teams are called out to assist the affected population. They organise basic medical care, treatment of injured people, carry out vaccination campaigns. In long-term aid projects, these teams are fighting diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS and now the recent coronavirus pandemic.

MSF’s core values are independent, neutral and impartial. It's principles are to respect patients' autonomy, patient confidentiality and their right to informed consent. To treat the patients with dignity, and with respect for their cultural and religious beliefs. In accordance with these principles, the organization endeavours  to provide high-quality medical care to all patients

In nations where health infrastructure is poor or even non-existant, MSF collaborates with government health authorities to provide assistance and builds long-term connections with governments to provide education and deliver prevention campaigns. The organization is very active in rehabilitation work, vaccination programs and sanitation projects. Their area of operations even include hospitals in remote areas and slum areas. They also provide training to local health workers. Their main focus is on rebuilding health infrastructure so that they are able to support their local population efficiently.

In 1972, MSF conducted its first major relief effort, helping earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Other significant missions include the mission for victims of fighting in Lebanon (1976), Afghanistan (1980) and Chechnya (1995). They have also conducted successful relief missions in African countries like Congo, Sudan etc. Currently, many such missions are going on in countries like Cambodia, Libya, Sri Lanka, Yemen and a few more places in Africa and Asia.

The organisation tries to ensure that majority of funds raised for its work comes directly from contributions from the general public.  They get funding from more than 6 million individual donors and private foundations and institutions that have helped it to raise more than 90 percent of it's funding requirements.

This NGO also addresses any human rights violations faced by field teams, perpetrated by political actors. It does so by confronting those responsible themselves, by putting pressure on them through mobilisation of the international community against them and by going public with the information. To prevent compromise or manipulation of MSF's relief activities, it maintains neutrality and does its relief activities independent from the country's government.