Médecins Sans Frontières announces new initiative to enhance awareness

In an effort to generate greater understanding of its aims and policies, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the international Nobel Prize winning humanitarian organisation, is launching a widespread awareness campaign in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the next two weeks. The campaign entitled “Unconditional Medical Care- Where Needed-When Needed,” is being run to create extensive knowledge about MSF, as well as detailed information about the use of donated funds and will target a wide audience across the UAE. Orient Planet, PR and Marketing Communications is assisting MSF to generate further awareness about the campaign.

The venue for the campaign will include selected shopping centres in Dubai, Choithram supermarkets and Spinneys outlets, billboards and magazine advertisements. The campaign is also an effort to generate greater trust and faith in MSF by demonstrating the MSF policy of transparency, and making sure the public knows exactly where and how its donations are spent. Each section of MSF publishes annual, audited financial statements according to its national legislation and auditing rules, which can be made available on request.

“This initiative is being undertaken with a view to create awareness about our work and experiences in the field. We would also like donors, partners and volunteers to feel that they can rely on us as much as we rely on them,” said Marie-Christine Amestoy, Marketing Manager MSF, UAE. “We aim to provide quality customer service of the highest degree. The staff at our offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are available to answer any public query six days a week. In addition we have a quarterly newsletter called Embrace, which regularly informs our donors and sponsors, with updates and information from the field, ” she added.

The UAE section of Médecins Sans Fontières was founded seven years ago under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. MSF is an international independent organization that provides unconditional emergency medical aid and long-term rehabilitation programs in crisis areas. MSF renders assistance in situations of war and conflict, refugees and displaced people, natural or man-made disasters and when long-term assistance is required.

MSF commences operations when it identifies the existence of a humanitarian crisis, or when invited by the national government or a UN agency to establish a project. Massive vaccination campaigns, water and sanitation improvement, patient care, maternal and paediatric care, distribution of medicines and medical supplies and rehabilitation of hospitals and clinics are some of the various forms of action offered by MSF. To maximize its responsiveness to emergency situations, MSF maintains four logistical centres based in Europe and East Africa and stock emergency materials in Central America and East Asia. The centres ensure that within 24 hours, planes can be loaded with equipment and flown into the crisis area.

Note

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was founded in 1971 by a group of French doctors who were determined to find a way to respond rapidly and effectively to public health emergencies with complete independence from all influences. It provides assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or man-made disasters and to victims of armed conflict without discrimination and irrespective of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. Today, MSF is an international network with sections in 18 countries. Each year, more than 3000 doctors, nurses, other medical professionals, logistics experts, water sanitation engineers and administrators join 15,000 locally hired staff to provide medical aid in more than 80 countries. MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 in recognition for its humanitarian work with populations in danger.