Physicians and Health Care Workers Role in Conflict Zones
Challenges and Successes Babak Abbaszadeh March 27, 2010,
Ottawa
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What is MSF? What is our mission? What are MSF roles in
conflict zones? What are the challenges? How we handle
challenges?
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International humanitarian aid organisation Provides emergency
medical relief to those who need it most First in and last out
Treats most vulnerable What is MSF?
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The MSF Charter 1) Independent Independent from governments, as
well as religious and economic interests 2) Impartial Provides
medical assistance solely on the basis of need, irrespective of
political, religious and economic affiliation 3) Neutral Doesnt
take sides 4) MSF Aid Workers Aware of the risks and dangers of the
missions
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A brief history 1971 Founded by French doctors 1980 MSF becomes
international Operational centres throughout Europe Sections
throughout the world 1991 MSF Canada set up 1999 Winner of Nobel
Peace Prize
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MSF Canada Field workers 2007 1800 MSF aid workers since
1992
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What is our mission? Natural disaster Armed conflict and post
conflict Population affected by epidemic or endemic diseases Social
violence or exclusion
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Rapid reaction from MSF workers in region. Emergency teams on
stand-by in European centres. Rapid deployment of medical kits.
Rapid assessments of unmet needs. Epidemic surveillance. Natural
Disasters
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War Important symbolic value Absolute neutrality Get job done
safely, simply and fast
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Nutrition intervention Surveillance and early warning
Nutritional response Establish therapeutic and blanket feeding
Provision of non-food items Water sanitation Vaccination
Coordination with other organisations Lobbying for change
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Displacement Both internal and external displacement. MSF
assesses the health needs of displaced populations Medical response
if assessment highlights need.
Challenges Remain impartial and neutral Reach the most
vulnerable population Provide access to essential medicine
Tmoignage or Speak out Sustainability of MSF action Post conflict
interventions
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Who is who? Military vans, Afghanistan, April 2004 MSF Team,
Afghanistan, April 2004 Remain impartial and neutral MSFs only
protection is through the communities in which we work. We are
trying even harder to educate them about our complete independence
from anyones army.
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Reach the most vulnerable population Myanmar
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Tmoignage and speaking out Acting and speaking out are not two
inseparable elements of relief: Bandages are not enough. How does
MSF gather this information? Gathering testimonies and stories from
patients Collecting statistical medical data How does MSF speak
out? Encouraging local authorities Producing press
releases/conferences Publishing materials In extreme conditions,
may withdraw its presence
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Access to Essential Medicines Campaign International campaign
started in 1999. 3 main objectives: Stimulating research and
development for drugs and neglected diseases. Overcoming barriers
to existing medicines (patents and prices). Lobbying to overcome
trade barriers.
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Drug development outcome 1975-1999: 1393 new chemical entities
marketed Tropical diseases: 13 Tuberculosis: 3 Trouiller et al.,
Lancet Vol. 1359 Jun. 2002
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Access to Essential Medicines Campaign Top 5 ACHIEVEMENTS
1)Price of AIDS drugs fallen dramatically, leading to international
push to treat HIV in LDCs: - 1999 = $US 10,000 per patient/year -
2001 = $300 per patient/year 2) Continued production of sleeping
sickness drugs secured 3) Put need for new TB diagnosis and
treatment on international agenda 4) Established the Drugs for
Neglected Disease Initiative A new model for drug development 5)
Need for effective malaria diagnosis and treatment accepted
nationally and internationally www.dndi.org
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Summary MSF charter is our guideline Reaching the most
vulnerable people is our goal Educating the community and living
within the population we help is our security Implementing simple
projects adapted to situation of chronic conflict is key for
sustainability
