A Great Woman in MSF

A Great Woman in MSF

In my last blog, I explained you Doctor without Borders (Medicines Sans Frontieres) from historical perspective and their fundamental idea, policy and activity. So this time, I would like to introduce the voice of this organization’s staffs.

So I will talk about Ms. Matsumoto Akiko who has participated in their activity many times. Her position is a nurse or field research coordinator in this organization. Each time the end of the work, she fills out a questionnaire. So I translate it from Japanese into English and show the part of it to you.

Sending state: Nigeria

l  Why did you participate in the project that dispatches you to foreign countries?

Because, after I had joined various projects of other organizations for a few years, I thought that I want to participate in a program that treat malnourished children and an emergency aid project.

l  What kind of work did you do? What kind of experience is useful in the activity?

I had experienced various works for about 8 years in Japan. For example, treatment in an emergency hospital, going into action by a doctor car, nursing of internal medicine, surgery, neurosurgery, relaxation care, pediatrics, orthopedics department, gynecologist, cardiovascular internal medicine and so on. And I acquired MPH (Master of Public Health) in foreign country.

In 1995, a great earthquake occurred in Hanshin and Awaji area. At that time, I was a victim, but I was also position to do emergency aid. I learned that we can help people even if we cannot use water, gas, electricity and the newest medical instruments and we, human have a great power. I make use of this experience to life and activity in foreign countries.

l  What kind of project did you participate in this time? What kind of duties did you do?

In this dispatch, my role was starting on research project and handing it over to next staffs. I connected malnutrition to other disease and research a way to prevent people from malnutrition by using a nourishing food to cure (RVTF) and a small amount of nutrient powder (MNP).

l  Please tell me home environment at the actual location.

We had air-conditioners installed in each room, because temperature in Nigeria was beyond 50 degree during the day. I had to live with 14 staffs, so there were many opinions about a meal. It was difficult for us to fit opinion like some wanted to eat only vegetable, but others wanted to eat meats every day. We divided into teams and cooked, so meals were rich in variety. It was fun.

l  What are you doing after this project?

I stay in France to acquire franchise, because if I can speak franchise, I can help more people in various areas.

l  Good things, Bad things

Good: I could meet good company.

Bad: Children dead of diseases that should be able to recover.

l  Please give some advice to people who want to join this activity in the future.

If you want to do it, you should try! I think you should judge whether you can continue or not after you do and feel it actually. You cannot know without doing. I think you will be able to discover who you are.

I could understand how people can join MFS from this, and I really respect her. She even studies Franchise now because she wants to help more people. I want to something to support their work!

Review

When I entered the classroom, I saw many books on the table. I thought "what do I have to do?" after looking at the books. After listening to the explanation, about that books, I realized the Academic Writing style can be written differently from my original style. This class was a good chance to change my thinking.

Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF)- Mai

Medicines Sans Frontieres

ID#1521120008-9 Kusakabe Mai

Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. It offers assistance to people based on need, regardless of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. Its actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality. It reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, to challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to support for improved medical treatments and protocols.

First, MSF was founded in Paris, France in 1971. Its principles are described in the organization’s founding declaration. It is a non-profit, self –governed organization. Today, MSF is a worldwide movement of 23 associations. The work of MFS is carried out by thousands of health professionals, logical and administrative staff. The vast majority of MSF staffs come from the countries where the organization provides medical assistance. Together, they manage projects in more than 60 countries worldwide.

 MSF’s work is based on humanitarian principles. The organization is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. MSF operates independently. MSF determines people’s needs by conducting its own evaluations on the ground. More than 90 per cent of MSF’s overall funding comes from millions of private sources, not governments. MSF is neutral. The organization does not take sides in armed conflicts, provides care on the basis of need, and pushes for independent access to victims of conflict as required under international humanitarian law. MSF medical teams often witness violence, atrocities, and neglect in the course of their work, largely in regions that receive lacking international attention. At times, MSF may speak out publicly in an effort to bring a forgotten crisis to public attention, to alert the public to abuses occurring beyond the headlines, to criticize the inadequacies of the aid system, or to challenge the diversion of humanitarian aid for political interests. MSF medical teams on the ground are in constant dialogue with local authorities, warring parties, and other aid agencies in an attempt to ensure the best possible medical care for patients and their communities and to reinforce the organization’s operational independence. MSF rejects the idea that poor countries deserve third-rate medical care and try to provide high-quality care to patients and to improve the organization’s practices.

In 1999, when MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the organization announced the money would go towards raising awareness of and fighting against diseases. Through the Access Campaign, and in partnership with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, this work has helped lower the price of HIV/AIDS treatment and has stimulated research and development for medicines to treat malaria and neglected diseases like sleeping sickness and kala azar.

The majority of MSF staffs are gathered from countries where are supported by MSF. They are from various countries. Maybe, they know countries’ condition that needs to support well. So it is very useful for MSF to understand such countries correctly. And this is like area studies in America. Universities in America gather professors of area studies from various countries.

Observations of Map by Mai

In our class, we wrote maps of the world individually. There was no hint to write a map accurately. It was up to us. After that, we observed the maps that were written by somebody else in the class.

When I watched them, I thought that almost all of the students’ maps were ground maps. Why did they write ground maps? Why did not they write global maps? I think that there are some reasons. First, of course, a global map is too difficult to write. We cannot image how to write a global map on a paper. Second, maybe, we are not accustomed to watching a global map. A ground map is familiar to us. So, we imaged a ground map in an instant as our teacher asked us to write maps of the world. For example, when I was an elementary student, I studied where my country is on a ground map. I have not used a global map many times so far. A ground map is very useful because it can be posted on the walls, it does not need too much storage space and it is light to bring. On the other hand, a global map is not useful. It needs much storage space and it is heavier than a ground map. Therefore, a ground map is more used by people than a global map. But actually, a global map is correct in position and distance. So we use a global map better to understand them.

And on my observation, almost all of the students wrote their home countries in the center of the maps. Usually my country is written in the center of a ground map. So, most of us have not seen a ground map that other countries were written in the center of the map. 

Most of us could write 5 continents and did not write small island countries, for example islands of Oceania. They could write countries better near their home country. There is no time enough to write them. And actually, I do not know about them well, so if I had had enough time, I could not have wrote them. When I watch a world map, I usually watch my country or 5 continents, so I have no image other islands. I want to know about them. I can write 5 continents, but I do not know about in particular African countries. So, I want to know about them too. I want to be a person who can image in an instant where countries are. I think that it is very important to learn international relations. We can understand better about regions.

I think that I should be more conscious of the world. I am interested in international disputes, economics, religions, war, sociology, history and so on. I want to learn about them at university.  However, I do not know even where countries are or countries’ name correctly. It is a foundation for studying international relations. Now, I think to try to remember it.

Mai