DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS 2

Doctors Without Borders

The provision of healthcare services to all is a difficult exercise. Many people, especially
from poor backgrounds and in war zones, often face the challenge of accessing quality healthcare
services. Doctors Without Borders is a humanitarian organization that aims to ensure that every
person gets access to healthcare services. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that people in
conflict zones and countries affected by endemic diseases get access to much-needed medical
services. The team comprises of over 35,000 healthcare experts (Fox, 2014). The organization is
mainly funded through donors. Over the years, the organization has contributed to positive health
outcomes by offering medical services to all irrespective of one’s color, religious affiliation, or
political affiliation.
The organization was founded in the year 1971 in France (Fox, 2014). The organization
was created to deal with the aftermath of the Biafra secession. The founders aimed to ensure that
medical care was extended across national boundaries. The organization was founded on the
belief that access to medical care is more important than traditional boundaries. The organization
thus began helping people who were affected by war, disease, and famine. Through its efforts,
the organization has managed to address the healthcare needs of the most vulnerable in society.
Tens of millions of people have been treated by the organization due to their continued effort.
One of the ways through which the organization contributes towards the improvement of
life is through ensuring that it provides quality healthcare services to people who need it most.
The organization is not founded on helping people from a particular political party or religion.
Instead, the organization has helped in the rebuilding of communities (Redfield, 2013). People
who are caught in war zones are often neglected. They are wounded, and basic health facilities

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS 3
are destroyed in times of war. In addition, conflicts result in a high number of casualties. Women
and children are the worst hit in conflict areas. The organization seeks to help the most
vulnerable in society by ensuring that their most fundamental needs are addressed. Despite the
dangers faced by volunteers in war-torn areas, the organization has continued with its good work,
and this has earned the organization several international recognitions, including the 1999 Nobel
Peace Prize (Fox, 2014).
The organization has also championed the rights of the most vulnerable in society. In the
year 1999, the organization began the Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. The
campaign aimed to pile pressure on the government and governmental agencies to avail drugs
that disease that affects many people in the community (Redfield, 2013). The initiative has been
geared to ensure that the government increases the funding dedicated to availing essential drugs.
The organization has also invested in the provision of water and proper sanitation to
communities across the world (Leyton & McAllister, 1998). In doing so, the organization has
helped in combatting the spread of water-borne diseases. The organization has created various
water treatment projects across the world.
Overall, Doctors Without Borders is an example of a humanitarian organization that has
changed lives through volunteer and humanitarian efforts. The organization has mobilized
doctors, nurses, clinicians, and other professionals to accord the needy with essential medical
services. Through the efforts of the organizations, the vulnerable and the seek have found refuge,
and the organization has responded quickly to regions that need urgent healthcare services. The
organization has been transformative and has helped save lives.

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS 4

References

Fox, R. C. (2014). Doctors without borders: humanitarian quests, impossible dreams of
Médecins Sans Frontières. JHU Press.
Redfield, P. (2013). Life in crisis: The ethical journey of doctors without borders. Univ of
California Press.
Leyton, E., & McAllister, I. (1998). Touched by fire: Doctors without borders in a third world
crisis. Peace Research, 30(4), 101.