Shift in Humanitarian Relief Work: Doctors Without Borders Responds to Neglected Diseases (2006)

Undergraduate: Johanna Rankin

Faculty Advisor: Peter Redfield
Department: International & Area Studies

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Every year, tens of millions of poor people die unnecessarily of infectious_x000D_
diseases. Sadly, their need for essential medicines does not constitute_x000D_
demand in our market-driven world. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, it examines the neglect of seven diseases that affect primarily poor_x000D_
people (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, meningitis, kala azar, Chagas_x000D_
disease, and sleeping sickness) and how the humanitarian relief organization_x000D_
M?decins sans fronti?res (MSF) is responding to these neglected diseases. Combating these diseases is a new domain for MSF, as this organization has_x000D_
traditionally focused on providing medical relief to populations ravaged by_x000D_
wars, natural disasters, and epidemics. The second purpose of this paper is_x000D_
to explore several potential implications MSF may face by entering this new_x000D_
domain ? both implications specific to MSF and implications connected with a_x000D_
broader crisis of humanitarian action. This paper concludes that, despite_x000D_
these potential implications, this new domain of work is appropriate and_x000D_
necessary for MSF. The urgency of these diseases demands that the_x000D_
organization continue to strengthen the fight against their neglect.