‘Doctors without Borders’ set to enter State

3-year MoU for Mon District Hospital
Kevi Soho | EMN

DIMAPUR, JUN 27: The Health & Family Welfare (H&FW) department is set to sign a three-year MoU with 1999 Nobel Peace recipient organisation

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as Doctors without Borders, to further health care delivery in the State with particular focus on Mon district.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror over phone, H&FW Commissioner and Secretary Menukhol John confirmed the move while stating that the innovative step will pave way for experts to come in and help out in Mon District Hospital. He also felt that the arrangement creates a win-win situation for both parties as the department and the MSF can learn from one another.
Once the MoU is signed, the MSF will bring in its own experts and equipment to run the district hospital and PHCs in Mon district in their own professional style, the Commissioner Secretary informed. The team will, however, be assisted by the senior officers deputed by the department.
The arrangement, a first of its kind, is also expected to train department officials on the professional modals of the MSF.
With regard to the focus on Mon district, John said the officials of the international organisation had expressed interest to work in the less accessible and difficult areas. Hence, they have accordingly chosen to work in Mon district, he informed.
Medecins Sans Frontieres, an independent medical aid organisation, was founded in Paris in 1971 by a small group of doctors and journalists which has today grown to an international movement. Currently, MSF has its presence in more then 70 countries providing life saving assistance to population in need, with no discrimination of race, religion, nationality or political affiliation.
Right now, there are approximately 2,500 expatriate workers in the field with MSF alongside 20,000 national staff delivering emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters, or exclusion from health care in these over 70 countries.
In 2008, volunteer medical and non-medical professionals departed on more than 3,800 missions and joined approximately 22,500 locally hired staff to provide aid in projects around the world.
The organisation has also been awarded with Nobel Peace prize for its services in 1999.

The MSF team in Mon district of Nagaland is expected to comprise of three medical doctors, administrators, technicians and clinicians.