It is all too easy to be cynical, especially when confronted with the horrific images of a war zone. The heart-wrenching scenes of innocent civilians – especially children – being subjected to atrocities, the deprivation, and the endemic diseases that are very much the effects of conflict, are enough to shock our sensibilities. We wonder how can anyone treat other human beings so cruelly, and slowly, our faith in humanity diminishes.
Then there is the other side, which is all too often not highlighted in the popular press. It is of people who are giving up their time and contributing their skills and talent, putting themselves at risk so that people living in conflict zones can receive aid, care and treatment which they would otherwise not receive.
This is what Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF – otherwise known by the English translation of its name ‘Doctors Without Borders’) have been doing since 1971. An international medical humanitarian organisation, its volunteers – doctors, medical and logistics staff – have gone into some of the most desperate situations in the world, and through their efforts inspired hope in humanity.
A Brief History
Among the fundamental principles of MSF is that the welfare of people and their right to medical and humanitarian aid should outweigh all other considerations including politics and national borders – hence its name. As it is unaligned with any governments, and with its headquarters in neutral Switzerland, it carries out its work without fear or favour, and speaks out against atrocities if need be.
In recognition of its work, the Nobel Committee awarded the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize to MSF. Today, MSF is present in over 70 countries, with thousands of volunteers, all of whom have their own stories to share.
A Midwife’s Tale
One such person is Lee Hi Yeen from Malaysia who has been volunteering as a midwife/nurse with MSF since 2007, during which time she has worked in some of the most extreme conditions such as in Afghanistan and Somalia, helping women in childbirth and providing care which has saved them and their babies’ lives.
Having been to these areas has opened up Lee’s eyes to the suffering of women in places where basic rights and necessities are a luxury. “In Somalia, female circumcision is common and because of this, they suffer from health complications and increased risks during childbirth,” she revealed.
“Rape is also a huge problem, and many women in the Kiberia slum in Kenya have been assaulted and infected with HIV. And when I was in Afghanistan, I saw a lot of women die during delivery due to various complications and risks,” she said.
Emotionally Gripping
No matter how ‘battle-hardened’ one might be, any volunteer will testify that it is hard not to feel emotionally affected by what they see in the field. As Denis Dupuis – a Canadian logistician who is a seasoned volunteer with MSF – said, “It’s easier to remember the more traumatic situations because I still dream of some of the things I witnessed.”
“For example in Zimbabwe, I saw a family of four arriving at the cholera treatment unit in an ox cart. The two kids were so weak, they couldn’t walk, and their clothes were soaked with excreta and vomit. I was with John, a Swedish logistician, and we were both fighting the tears,” Dupuis shared.
Keeping Calm and Collected
As difficult as it may be, MSF volunteers – both medical and non-medical – realise that they cannot afford to be too emotionally overwrought despite the suffering and atrocities they see. As Dr Martin Jarmin – a Filipino medical volunteer – told PASSIONS, “To be able to perform my duties efficiently, I have learned to detach myself emotionally during the operation and just focus all my energies on clinical decision-making.”
“This certainly doesn’t mean that I don’t take time to reflect and that I do not feel anything,” he clarified. “It is especially hard for me to see children suffer war related injuries… (However) I cannot afford to be emotionally compromised while making life-saving decisions. Our patients deserve nothing less than the best clinical judgment and treatment possible.”
Rays of Light
Yet, despite the suffering they have seen, the volunteers have also been witness to those precious moments when a new life is saved, or when people who are on the verge of death are given a new lease of life, thanks to the intervention of MSF.
Recalling just one of those moments, Lee Hi Yeen shared with PASSIONS, “During my mission in Somalia, we delivered a very premature baby girl who weighed around 800 grams. Usually, a baby with such low birth weight does not survive in such a harsh place like Somalia. Luckily, her mother Lena was very dedicated to the care method we introduced to her, and to our delight, the baby grew well and both mother and child were discharged to go home after a month.”
For Denis Dupuis, the memorable situations – the positive scenes – are important because without them, “no one could keep doing this type of work.” Speaking about some which have become ingrained in his mind, he talked of the smiles of the people when he and other volunteers handed out blankets, of patients who managed to get treatment for cholera and of displaced people in refugee camps who – despite their deprived condition – even offered gifts to him in appreciation.
It would not be wrong to say that not only have the volunteers changed the lives of others, their lives and worldview have also been shaped by their experiences. As Dr Martin Jarmin revealed, “Being in some of the most impoverished and war-torn places on the planet, I feel more grateful for a lot of things in my country, and in my personal life. I reflect on things more and have become more introspective, (and have) learned to value things more.”
That perhaps sums up the core fundamental of what it takes to be a volunteer with Medicins Sans Frontieres – namely the ability to value life, to understand that it is more important to save a life than to be beholden to other circumstances. What is notable is that these three volunteers and tens of thousands of others are not celebrities nor are they are world famous individuals. They are ordinary people – but the work they do and the dedication they have for their volunteer work, have made them extraordinary.
