About MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in more than 70 countries.

Each year, MSF doctors, nurses, logisticians, water-and-sanitation experts, administrators, and other medical and non-medical professionals depart on more than 4,700 aid assignments. They work alongside more than 25,800 locally hired staff to provide medical care.

In emergencies and their aftermath, MSF provides essential health care, rehabilitates and runs hospitals and clinics, performs surgery, battles epidemics, carries out vaccination campaigns, operates feeding centers for malnourished children, and offers mental health care. When needed, MSF also constructs wells and dispenses clean drinking water, and provides shelter materials like blankets and plastic sheeting.

Through longer-term programs, MSF treats patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, sleeping sickness, and HIV/AIDS, and provides medical and psychological care to marginalized groups such as street children.

MSF was founded in 1971 as the first nongovernmental organization to both provide emergency medical assistance and bear witness publicly to the plight of the people it assists. A private nonprofit association, MSF is an international network with sections in 19 countries.

MSF is often one of the first humanitarian organizations to arrive at the scene of an emergency. Its large-scale logistical capacity ensures that MSF emergency teams hit the ground with the specialized medical kits and equipment they need to start saving lives immediately.

Custom-designed by MSF for specific field situations, geographic conditions, and climates, a kit may contain a complete operating room, for example, or all of the supplies needed to treat hundreds of cholera patients. MSF kits and medical protocols have been replicated by relief organizations worldwide.

MSF has proven expertise in the field of epidemiology and is often called on to monitor, diagnose, and control outbreaks of diseases, such as cholera, meningitis, and measles.

Independent Humanitarian Action

MSF's decision to intervene in any country or crisis is based solely on an independent assessment of people's needs — not on political, economic, or religious interests. MSF does not take sides or intervene according to the demands of governments or warring parties.

MSF volunteers frequently work in the most remote or dangerous parts of the world. When crises unfold, they make themselves and their skills available on short notice, usually dedicating six to twelve months to each assignment. Their expenses are covered and they receive a modest stipend.

MSF teams are composed of international volunteers and skilled local staff. Together, they work closely with national medical professionals and cooperate with other aid organizations.

Speaking Out to End Suffering

MSF unites direct medical care with a commitment to speaking out against the causes of suffering and the obstacles to providing effective assistance. MSF volunteers raise the concerns of their patients with governments, the United Nations, other international bodies, the general public, and the media. In a wide range of circumstances, MSF volunteers have spoken out against violations of international humanitarian law they have witnessed — from Chechnya to Sudan.

Based on its field experience, MSF is addressing obstacles preventing people in the developing world from obtaining affordable, effective treatments for diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Through its Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, MSF is advocating to lower drug prices, stimulate research and development of new treatments, and overcome trade and other barriers to accessing treatments.

Worldwide, MSF raises public awareness of the plight of people at risk. The organization sends field volunteers and staff to speak at international and national conferences, and arranges informational events and traveling exhibitions. Special public education projects have addressed the stark realities of living without access to medicines, the devastation caused by malnutrition, and the hardships of life in a refugee camp.

Financial Independence and Accountability

To maintain its operational independence and flexibility, MSF relies on the general public for nearly 80 percent of its operating funds. The remaining 20 percent of funds come from international agencies and governments. The organization counted more than 3.1 million individuals, foundations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations among its donors worldwide in 2004. In 2004, MSF's worldwide income was $568 million..

Since 2000 MSF has been working in South Africa, primarily in response to the HIV epidemic. In Khayelitsha, the largest township in the Western Cape, MSF has worked with the provincial authorities to pioneer comprehensive HIV treatment, including antiretroviral (ARV) medicines, at a primary care level. Today, these clinics support over 6,000 people on ARV therapy.

In 2003, together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, MSF opened a similar programme in Lusikisiki, one of the most underserved areas of rural Eastern Cape. By 2005 universal ARV coverage had been achieved and in 2006 the programme was finally handed over to the provincial health authorities.

At the same time, MSF was opening a programme in Lesotho based on the model implemented in Lusikisiki. There, MSF and the health authorities started a pilot nurse-based programme to provide HIV/Aids and TB care. In less than two years, nearly 2,000 people had been initiated on ARV treatment.

Together, these programmes have done more than simply treat patients. They have provided vital lessons about how comprehensive treatment for HIV can practically be delivered both in rural and urban settings. At the same time, MSF has been lobbying, with many others, for cheaper medicines, more global funding for the HIV crisis and changes in policy towards the epidemic,

Despite the successes, many challenges remain, such as the problems of TB and HIV co-infection, drug-resistant strains of TB and the issue of long-term adherence to ARV treatment. MSF works with patients, academics, local health authorities and international experts to find innovative and practical solutions to these problems. In response to the high levels of sexual violence in Khayelitsha, MSF supports the Simelela centre for rape survivors – a one-stop location which combines practical medical care to protect against infection and psychological support with police and forensic assistance. MSF also keeps its capacity to react to new humanitarian needs arising in South Africa.

In 2007, MSF opened an office in Johannesburg. The new office supports MSF programmes in the region and elsewhere by providing medical expertise, recruiting medical and other professionals and fundraising. MSF in Johannesburg also speaks out about medical and humanitarian crises faced by vulnerable communities by sharing information with the South African public, the media, government agencies, and other non-governmental organizations.

• Elma De Vries: Member of the Rural Doctors Association and was elected as President of the MSF SA Board
• Andrew Boulle: Senior lecturer at the  School of Public Health and Family Medicine
• Søren Brix Christensen: President of the MSF Denmark Board
• Moses Massaquoi: Surgeon from Liberia currently based in MSF in Malawi
• Prinitha Pillay: South African medical doctor. Has worked in the field (Lesotho, Darfur and Mumbai) for the last two years
• Stefano Vajtho: Member of the MSF Italian Board
• Paul Tyler: Executive Consultant for Non-profit Organisations with CMDS (C Masters Development Services) and Treasurer of the MSF SA Board
• Christopher Stokes: General Director, MSF, Operational Centre Brussels (Ex-officio member)
• Eric Goemaere: Medical Coordinator, MSF South Africa, Program (Ex-officio member)
• Rachel M Cohen: Head of Mission, MSF South Africa, Program (Ex-officio member)

MSF Charter

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a private international association. The association is made up mainly of doctors and health sector workers and is also open to all other professions which might help in achieving its aims. All of its members agree to honor the following principles:

	Médecins Sans Frontières provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict. They do so irrespective of race, religion, creed or political convictions.
	Médecins Sans Frontières observes neutrality and impartiality in the name of universal medical ethics and the right to humanitarian assistance and claims full and unhindered freedom in the exercise of its functions.
	Members undertake to respect their professional code of ethics and to maintain complete independence from all political, economic or religious powers.
	As volunteers, members understand the risks and dangers of the missions they carry out and make no claim for themselves or their assigns for any form of compensation other than that which the association might be able to afford them.