RP385 The Heroes Who Heal

 RP385 The Heroes Who Heal

In 1971 a group of French doctors and journalists created an international organization that would provide emergency medical care to victims of war, natural disasters, or disease regardless of their race, religion, or political beliefs. They named the organization Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders, as it has become known in the United States.
Made up of all kinds of specialists from every aspect of the health industry, the organization provides vital medical support in some of the world's most deprived and war-torn countries.
These doctors, nurses, administrators, and planning experts are active in over 70 countries and operate under a firm code of ethics, which requires them to treat everyone equally without showing discrimination. The organization also remains strictly politically and religiously neutral and does not take sides in war. It does this so that it can remain free of any constraints that could affect its ability to give aid where it's most needed.
It also maintains its independence by making private donations its main source of income. There are over 5.7 million private donors that come from countries all around the world. Only 10 percent of its funds come from governments.
Often first on the scene in any crisis, Doctors Without Borders is constantly in the thick of disasters, be they man-made or natural, sometimes witnessing scenes of real brutality and violence. In order to provide the best medical care, they are continually in touch with local people on the ground. As such, they have a unique and thorough perspective on the world's most desperate situations.
Using this firsthand knowledge, the organization frequently speaks out against human rights abuses, medical neglect, and instances of violence that do not get sufficient attention from the media.
A peaceful organization, they have only ever called for military intervention once, during the 1994 massacre in Rwanda. However, they have also strongly condemned the actions of the governments of several African and Asian countries, often working directly with the United Nations.
In 1999, the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its exceptional humanitarian work around the world. And, true to form, it used the money to fund the fight against neglected diseases.