Médecins Sans Frontières at work in Haiti, Chile, India and Pakistan
“We were forced to buy a saw in the market to continue amputations. We don’t have any more morphine to manage pain for our patients. It is like working in a war situation.” Dr. Rosa Crestani, MSF medical coordinator for Choscal Hospital, Port-au-Prince
NEWS UPDATE: February 27, 2010 – Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) medical teams have already arrived in Chile following the catastrophic earthquake that struck the country this past weekend. Find out more.
NEWS UPDATE: August 13, 2010 – Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) is bringing in 200,000 litres of clean water every day to Pakistan’s Swat Valley following massive flooding this month that has disrupted power to water treatment plants, meaning no access to safe, clean drinking water and increased dangers of waterborne disease to flood victims. “We have identified a water spring and in agreement with the local community, we are able to extract, filter, chlorinate and distribute the water,” said Azzura Dinca who is in charge of water and sanitation for MSF in Swat. Find out more.
Médecins Sans Frontières (also known as Doctors Without Borders) is the world’s leading independent international medical relief organization. MSF is now recruiting medical professionals for their stand-by roster of international volunteers for future deployment in Haiti following this month’s catastrophic earthquake.
Médecins Sans Frontières was established in 1971 by a small group of French doctors who had worked in Biafra. When they returned home, they were determined to find a way to provide rapid and effective medical help for those caught in armed conflicts, disease epidemics, famine, and natural disasters like this month’s earthquake in Haiti – all with complete independence from political, economic and religious influences.
MSF is currently recruiting medical professionals in Haiti and other disaster sites, including:
- Physicians
- Registered Nurses/Nurse practitioners
- Nurse-midwives (URGENT)
- Mental Health specialists
- Laboratory specialists and technicians
- Surgeons
- Anaesthesiologists (URGENT)
- Dieticians/Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists (URGENT)
- Epidemiologists
In addition, team members for Haiti deployment should:
- speak French or Creole
- have prior international experience
- be available for at least four weeks of service
Qualifed Canadians who want to be on this stand-by roster for Haiti should send an e-mail today to MSF Canada with your CV attached, and add the following details:
- name
- occupation
- personal e-mail address
- telephone number
- notice period required (days)
- period available (weeks)
- proficiency in French (if sent in English)
- relevant experience
Qualified Americans should visit this website for more information about volunteering.
Before you do, however, complete this MSF Self-Assessment Checklist to determine if international disaster response work is right for you.
For an insider’s gripping perspective (in English or en français) direct from Haiti, read this blog from Canadian Isabelle Jeanson, who has been working as a press officer with MSF communications since 2003, and who arrived in Haiti 48 hours after the earthquake struck.
Or read this article from the Public Library of Science Medicine about MSF’s work in Haiti so far. NEWS UPDATE, February 9, 2010: MSF Now Plans For Management of Communicable Diseases in Haiti.
Finally, please consider making a generous donation today to help this amazing Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization in its vital work.
on March 7, 2010 on 10:59 pm
Thanks for sharing this one!
on February 25, 2010 on 12:09 am
I’m so glad to have found this page on Doctors Without Borders. My pal mentioned it to me before, yet never got around to checking it out until now. I really enjoyed reading through all your other posts and will absolutely be back to get more.
on February 12, 2010 on 11:24 am
This is exactly why I no longer support the Red Cross. Those scandals following 9/11 and Katrina resulted in senior R.C. execs being fired for inappropriate use of donated funds. I want my donations to support front line experts in the field – not some overpaid Red Cross bureaucrat who gets a $2 million severance package after being fired.
on February 14, 2010 on 10:04 am
I too have been increasingly concerned about recent R.C. news. The American Red Cross in particular has garnered embarrassing headlines like this story in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/07/nyregion/a-nation-challenged-the-charities-in-congress-harsh-words-for-red-cross.html
on February 3, 2010 on 7:41 pm
I recently decided to donate to help Haiti’s disaster. I pray that everyone send money to those left homeless by Haiti’s disaster, too.
on February 5, 2010 on 8:03 pm
Thanks for this, Tarang.
on February 3, 2010 on 7:03 pm
Besides donating my own money to Haiti, I will continue to pray for them. Lifting everything up to Heaven for them.
on February 5, 2010 on 8:01 pm
Thanks, Armandina!
on February 1, 2010 on 3:05 pm
My sister has volunteered for Doctors Without Borders for two years and three different deployments.
The stories she brings home are truly moving and horrific, yet she feels the work is so important that she continues to plan her time off each year to be able to do this work. I can tell you from firsthand experience with our own family that this is a lean, well-managed organization filled with incredibly dedicated doctors, nurses, and other trained volunteers.
I urge all your readers to give generously.
on February 3, 2010 on 8:04 am
Thanks, Shellie – it’s good to get an insider’s perspective about the inner workings of any aid agency. Continued good luck to your sister.
on January 31, 2010 on 12:22 am
Excellent reminder here. Many thanks for this. There are many ways to help.
on January 31, 2010 on 10:23 pm
You’re right, Riva. Those of us who are unable to volunteer can help a lot by making a donation. Those of us who are unable to make a donation can help by telling everybody we know about the work of MSF.
on January 29, 2010 on 12:48 pm
Wow, I had no idea about MSF until I read this today.
This organization is incredible. I encourage your readers to check out their MSF website.
I think their independence is a particularly important factor (no political or religious agenda) plus they’ve actually been in Haiti working for almost 20 years so they already know the country, the culture, the people; many other agencies parachute in at times like these, well meaning but not necessarily the most effective at getting supplies and help directly to those most in need.
Since Katrina and 9/11 and subsequent confusion about ‘what happened to all that money that poured in?’ it can be hard to decide which agencies to support. Thanks for letting us know about this most worthwhile one.
on January 31, 2010 on 10:20 pm
I agree, Chris – MSF’s independence from political or religious influence is very appealing, as well as the fact that they have a very specific and dedicated focus on medical aid that doesn’t just stop when the initial media fuss ends, but continues with medium- and long-range strategic plans for ongoing health care.