Organization Spotlight : Doctors Without Borders

Love, Care and Consciousness are built into our DNA at DrTung’s.  It’s a concept we weave into every part of our business model — from our products, to our consumers, to our team, to our planet and to all sentient beings.  There are many, many organizations working diligently to make this planet a better place.  Some of these organizations have touched our hearts in very deep ways.  To share the amazing work from a few of our favorite groups, we’re spotlighting one incredible organization each month throughout the year.

We kick off this series with…

Doctors Without Borders
   Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Doctors Without Borders is an independent, global movement made up of people from all corners of the world who share a common purpose: to save the lives and alleviate the suffering of people in danger by delivering medical care where it is needed most.¹ 

Doctors Without Borders was founded 50 years ago on the conviction that everyone has the right to medical care. Today, in more than 70 countries around the world, Doctors Without Borders continues to offer assistance to people based solely on need—irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation. During crises such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, and epidemics, their teams of doctors, nurses, logisticians, mental health officers, and other frontline workers are often among the first on the scene. They also respond to the needs of people who have been excluded from health care due to social stigma and other factors. Their work remains as relevant today as it was 50 years ago.² 

How it started…

Doctors Without Borders was officially created on December 22, 1971 with the founding belief that all people have the right to medical care and that the needs of these people outweigh respect for national boundaries.³ 

From the beginning they have remained “fiercely” committed to “independence, impartiality, and neutrality”.  This gives Doctors Without Borders the ability to respond quickly to emergencies where other agencies either cannot or will not go.  It means that Doctors Without Borders is not tied down with other priorities; not politicians, funders, nor media.   They do not have to wait for official funds to be released or for the media to generate interest.

Where it is now...

Doctors Without Borders has opened offices in 28 countries and employs more than 30,000 people across the world.  They have treated over one hundred million patients!!!

They have supply centers across the globe and have developed and produced “pre-packaged disaster kits" including complete surgical theatre kits the size of a small conference table and obstetrics kits the size of a two-drawer cabinet.  These kits and supplies can all be ready for transport within hours.  The kits are so successful they are used as models for emergency relief organizations worldwide.

“Bearing Witness”

“Acting and speaking, treating and witnessing were acts fundamental to the creation of MSF…”. 

For Doctors Without Borders, the principles of “impartiality” and “neutrality” do not mean silence or not speaking out against injustices…just the opposite.  When teams witness extreme acts of violence against groups or individuals or when access to lifesaving medical care is hindered, they publicly speak out.  Often humanitarian organizations adhere to a policy known as “silent diplomacy” — very rarely speaking out regardless of the scale of atrocities for fear that it will offend the parties in conflict and limit their humanitarian work.  In contrast, Doctors Without Borders teams talk about what they see, in spite of the risks.  They refuse to watch in silence, believing that “silence could kill” and that those who watch without speaking up are complicit in the atrocities.⁴ 

Dr. James Orbinski, author of the book An Imperfect Offering:  Humanitarian Action for the Twenty-First Century and International Council President when Doctors Without Borders won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, says that the only way to improve human conditions is to acknowledge hardship and to take moral responsibility for the prevention and alleviation of international atrocities.⁵ 

Financially Independent

Doctors Without Borders is financially independent and relies mainly on the generosity of individual donors. Over 90% of their income comes from private donors giving small amounts.  By rarely taking funds from governments, businesses, or institutions they remain financially independent and can provide aid based on need alone — the aid provided cannot be used to further any government’s political or military goals.  

The Takeaway

We’ve barely scratched the surface of the incredible humanitarian efforts that Doctors Without Borders has done and continues to do.  You can read more on their site or follow them on Social Media.  If their work resonates with you, we encourage you to share their story with your friends and family and donate if you can.  

As always, do what resonates with you.  One thing we can all do is to take a few moments each day to take care of ourselves and cultivate positive energy.  When you feel positive, you share that feeling with those around you — it’s contagious (in a good way).  Each of us adding positivity to ourselves and spreading it to those around us, adds to the collective Love, Care and Consciousness of humankind.  Together we can make a difference to each other, to our environment and to all sentient beings. 

Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder.
Help someone’s soul heal.    ~Rumi