Years ago, when I finished nursing school, my dream was to be involved with Doctor’s Without Borders(DWB). I investigated and applied to volunteer my Nursing skills, and before I had heard back –I found myself happily married. Now, 13 years later with two, soon to be 3 children–this deep calling to this organization still haunts my soul. We all hear and speak of what “drives us”. What is on our to do list before we die. My dream is packed away, gathering dust while parenthood and being a responsible working mom adult is at the forefront. Yet– it is always there, stashed behind the soccer games, gymnastic classes and my work as a pediatric nurse, duties of motherhood and of being a wife and daughter, sister and friend.
Over the decade or so, since turning down an opportunity to work with this organization, Doctor’s Without Borders has grown more global. DWB or Doctor’s Without Borders now has over 15,000 paid employees living in the countries around the world with several thousand volunteers working beside them. They provide medical care, medicine, education, basic shelter, to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. They are in the forefront of many campaigns such as http://www.accessmed-msf.org/index.asp. A campaign linked to providing essential TB and HIV medicines to those communities that need it the most.
If you are unfamiliar with Dotor’s Without Borders, I urge you to spend some quality time at their web site; Over this last year, as a global awareness campaign–Doctors Without Borders is presenting an amazing, tactile and emotional exhibit entitled “A Refugee camp in the heart of the city”. It is a touring exhibit in many cities this fall. The exhibit forces the visitor to really examine and become emotionally connected to the millions of refugee’s in the world. Sudan, the Congo, and Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, and many other camps are depicted. Listen to the
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to hear more about this exhibit.
What remains core to Doctors Without Borders, is what remains core to my heart. They provide medical treatment to those populations that need it the most. They target devasted communities plagued with such diseases as HIV/AIDS in specific regions like Uganda; and provide medicines, counseling, treatment, follow-up care, mother-baby transmission care and follow-up, and much much more.
National Geographic has done a beautiful documentary following DWB volunteers in more than 80 countries.
I strongly urge/beg for everyone to watch at least one episode. Please take time to get to know Doctor’s Without Borders. You need not be in the medical field to understand and contribute to all the good they are doing around the world.
Great post! The Doctor that I work for is involved with this organization! He assists in helping to fund it and donates medical supplies. I look forward to watching the documentary that you mentioned!