Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) & Safdarjung Hospital (SJH) and The Indian Public Health Association-Delhi State Branch in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) India is organising a two day event ‘Medical Humanitarianism: The MSF experience’ for future and current medical practitioners on July 30th and 31st, 2014 at VMMC.
The event will see the participation of medical students from different medical colleges and doctors in discussions on medical humanitarianism, Hepatitis B and C and access to affordable medicine. The sessions will be led by panelists from the civil society, Leena Menghaney, MSF Access Campaign coordinator and Dr Shashi Khare from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“MSF is doing medical work which impacts thousands of people across the world and we are delighted to collaborate with them for this event. We hope the event will increase awareness not just about practicing humanitarian medicine but also create a platform to discuss the importance of testing and treating the deadly disease of Hepatitis,” said Dr Deepak Raut, Director Professor, Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and SJH , adding “We want more people to come forward and know their Hepatitis status for early intervention and treatment and appreciate MSF’s endeavor in treating this disease.”
Stressing on the importance of this first-of-its kind collaboration, Farhat Mantoo, Acting General Director, MSF India said “VMMC is among the prominent medical institutions in the country and produces some of the country’s best doctors. Through this event, we hope to not only increase awareness about MSF’s medical work but also intend to engage with the Indian medical fraternity to discuss various health related issues and how they can contribute to our work.”
During the event, participants can also walk through the MSF India visibility campaign “Who Cares? We do” exhibition and interact with MSF doctors, aid workers and hear their stories of life “in the field.”
Notes to editor:
About Who Cares?
The ‘Who Cares?’ campaign is MSF India’s first public campaign to raise awareness about critical public health issues and the work being carried out by MSF in the country and abroad. The campaign was kicked off last year by late actor Farooq Sheikh and film director Anurag Kashyap. The idea behind the ‘Who Cares?’ campaign stems from MSF’s belief that everyone should have access to healthcare irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliations. We do not take sides in any conflict and go where the needs are greatest. To maintain our independence, we rely on donations from individuals around the world for the majority of our income.
About Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
MSF is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare in around 70 countries. MSF offers assistance to people based only on need and irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation.
MSF received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in 1996 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999.
About MSF in India
MSF has been working in India since 1999, providing free-of-charge essential healthcare in the states of Bihar, Manipur, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Contact: DVL Padma Priya, Press Officer
+91 9650061067/ padma.priya@new-delhi.msf.org
