Medicins Sans Frontieres
Our school invited a doctor named Raymond Soong who had participated in ‘Medicins sans frontieres’ (Doctors without borders) to give a speech this Saturday. He had been inspired to participate after he had viewed a photo show in Taipei made by the organization and (by chance) encountered doctors from said organization while he was trekking solo in Tibet. At the time he had just graduated from Medical school. He went on to get two years residency to build up on experience and a course in tropical diseases to qualify for a mission.
In his speech he mentioned how the AIDS problem exacerbates a country’s economical problems and creates a vicious cycle. When the life expectancy in a country goes from an average of 48 to 25, it spells disaster for the country. Parents hardly see their children grown up, and the working class is seriously cut off – being unable to form due to the lack of adults. Thus, any sort of economical growth is hindered. Having access to medicine would extend their lives at least a decade, which would allow them to see their children to adulthood and work for an extra ten years. But they usually only earn one dollar a year and the medicine has to be taken daily and continually – costing more than a dollar for each day. This becomes a no decision problem. They can’t possibly hope to afford the medicine when they can’t buy food to survive. That’s why there have been NPOs lobbying medicine companies to let go of their patent privileges and/or lower the cost of AIDS medicine.
Though the medicine for Tuberculosis is less expensive and accessible, the decision for doctors in remote areas to send Tuberculosis patients to city Tuberculosis centers for treatments is still a no decision. That is – the doctor can’t send the patient to the city for treatment. The reason is because Tuberculosis medicines have to be taken continually for about six months for total recovery. If the medicine is stopped for a while, the disease likely isn’t eradicated and may flair up in a form that has developed resistance to the current drug. This form of tuberculosis may spread in the district and by the time a Tuberculosis center is set up near or in the area it may be impossible to cure. That is the problem that currently plagues Russia’s Tuberculosis victims. Nonprofit organizations had set up shop in Russia when they were allowed and started providing medicine for Tuberculosis patients. Due to political problems they were often forced to abandon their project midway, which resulted in a great deal of less than cured patients with drug resistant bacteria dwelling in their chests. In Liberia, the interruption is usually because the patient cannot support him or herself in the city. Jobs are difficult to find in the big city, even for healthy individuals, what chance does that leave for those who are sick? A lot of times patients run home because of this and the treatment has to be interrupted. So doctors are faced with the difficult decision of not sending the patients for treatment for fear of the long-term consequences it may have on the Tuberculosis population.
Doctor Soong stresses how we humans have such incredibly wonderful possibilities, which can often be hindered by how we often set limitations for ourselves. He says that if we truly desire to do something, we would try to surmount all obstacles in order to gain our heart’s desire. We often give ourselves excuses. But if something wants to be done, then we must set out now. Ask the practical questions – why, what, when, where, and how – instead of dwelling on the difficulties that may arise. Difficulties and sacrifice there will be, but a castle is never built by simply scheming about it. The best way to do anything is to just go ahead.
Doctor Soong also introduced a novel idea to us in his speech – the fact that aid to Africa cannot simply be about money. He says that though the people need the money, they often detest the givers that give it. Giving has to have a quality of respect – the giver respects the receiver and the receiver respects the giver. Simply giving charity isn’t something that they enjoy. They desire respect and care in the action. This reminds me of an old Chinese story that talks about a famine. A charitable man went to the place where the famine was occurring and handed out food. He saw a starving man staggering by him and called out “Here, come get food!” The starving man was angered by the charitable man’s attitude and said “I would rather starve then eat food from a rude hand.” And he did. So in our care for Africa we must not simply dispense our duty by giving them charity, attitude matters. It is a delicate and important issue when considering aid.
Though Doctor Soong says that giving is a wonderful joy, there are still many difficulties in the task as a Doctor of MSF. First of all is the disparity between ideals and facts. Despite how empowering such an ideal may be, it is drudging, difficult, extremely soul tiring work. One cannot imagine how it is until one is truly there doing it… facing the lack of resources and hands, the endless over-surge of patients and the sense that one’s work has not made as much impact is wished for. A doctor at MSF once joked that the best thing a doctor can do before he left is not to make things worst than they are. The work is important, it saves lives, but it is still very tiring on the soul. That is why most missions MSF undertakes do not involves doctors staying in areas above a year. After a year it often becomes routine, and if the doctor loses passion for the job not only is it bleak for the doctor but does no good for the patients as well. Think of it as intensive cram school and you’ll get the picture. Doctor Soong went through extremely difficult lows during his time there and almost considered quitting at a time. However, he still extended his three month trial period to a ten month mission. He says that the idea of going back to do the work is still appealing. But when he thinks about it doing it throughout his life may soon lose it’s appeal. He believes that it will be more fulfilling if he can inspire others to follow him the next time he goes back. And that is what he has been doing upon his return to Taiwan – making speeches and showing pictures of his trip to inspire the people in Taiwan to help those in countries less privileged than ours.
Finally he encouraged us to travel widely, best of all solo, and by doing so learn how to solve problems independently. He says that we should start from the easier countries, like Japan or Western Europe, and then gradually work into the more remote and difficult places, like India and Tibet. Basically I believe he is stating this from the viewpoint of one who has had parents who could support such ventures and has benefited greatly from such travels. The things we can do as people who cannot afford such adventures may be by volunteering in local benefits and programs.
Last of all his overall speech tells us that it is important to help, but we must follow our heart in this matter. Only if we are willing to give will the giving be meaningful.
MSF website: http://www.msf.org.au/index.shtml
Latest on AIDS medicine crisis by MSF: http://www.msf.org.au/stories/twfeature/2007/163-twf.shtml
In his speech he mentioned how the AIDS problem exacerbates a country’s economical problems and creates a vicious cycle. When the life expectancy in a country goes from an average of 48 to 25, it spells disaster for the country. Parents hardly see their children grown up, and the working class is seriously cut off – being unable to form due to the lack of adults. Thus, any sort of economical growth is hindered. Having access to medicine would extend their lives at least a decade, which would allow them to see their children to adulthood and work for an extra ten years. But they usually only earn one dollar a year and the medicine has to be taken daily and continually – costing more than a dollar for each day. This becomes a no decision problem. They can’t possibly hope to afford the medicine when they can’t buy food to survive. That’s why there have been NPOs lobbying medicine companies to let go of their patent privileges and/or lower the cost of AIDS medicine.
Though the medicine for Tuberculosis is less expensive and accessible, the decision for doctors in remote areas to send Tuberculosis patients to city Tuberculosis centers for treatments is still a no decision. That is – the doctor can’t send the patient to the city for treatment. The reason is because Tuberculosis medicines have to be taken continually for about six months for total recovery. If the medicine is stopped for a while, the disease likely isn’t eradicated and may flair up in a form that has developed resistance to the current drug. This form of tuberculosis may spread in the district and by the time a Tuberculosis center is set up near or in the area it may be impossible to cure. That is the problem that currently plagues Russia’s Tuberculosis victims. Nonprofit organizations had set up shop in Russia when they were allowed and started providing medicine for Tuberculosis patients. Due to political problems they were often forced to abandon their project midway, which resulted in a great deal of less than cured patients with drug resistant bacteria dwelling in their chests. In Liberia, the interruption is usually because the patient cannot support him or herself in the city. Jobs are difficult to find in the big city, even for healthy individuals, what chance does that leave for those who are sick? A lot of times patients run home because of this and the treatment has to be interrupted. So doctors are faced with the difficult decision of not sending the patients for treatment for fear of the long-term consequences it may have on the Tuberculosis population.
Doctor Soong stresses how we humans have such incredibly wonderful possibilities, which can often be hindered by how we often set limitations for ourselves. He says that if we truly desire to do something, we would try to surmount all obstacles in order to gain our heart’s desire. We often give ourselves excuses. But if something wants to be done, then we must set out now. Ask the practical questions – why, what, when, where, and how – instead of dwelling on the difficulties that may arise. Difficulties and sacrifice there will be, but a castle is never built by simply scheming about it. The best way to do anything is to just go ahead.
Doctor Soong also introduced a novel idea to us in his speech – the fact that aid to Africa cannot simply be about money. He says that though the people need the money, they often detest the givers that give it. Giving has to have a quality of respect – the giver respects the receiver and the receiver respects the giver. Simply giving charity isn’t something that they enjoy. They desire respect and care in the action. This reminds me of an old Chinese story that talks about a famine. A charitable man went to the place where the famine was occurring and handed out food. He saw a starving man staggering by him and called out “Here, come get food!” The starving man was angered by the charitable man’s attitude and said “I would rather starve then eat food from a rude hand.” And he did. So in our care for Africa we must not simply dispense our duty by giving them charity, attitude matters. It is a delicate and important issue when considering aid.
Though Doctor Soong says that giving is a wonderful joy, there are still many difficulties in the task as a Doctor of MSF. First of all is the disparity between ideals and facts. Despite how empowering such an ideal may be, it is drudging, difficult, extremely soul tiring work. One cannot imagine how it is until one is truly there doing it… facing the lack of resources and hands, the endless over-surge of patients and the sense that one’s work has not made as much impact is wished for. A doctor at MSF once joked that the best thing a doctor can do before he left is not to make things worst than they are. The work is important, it saves lives, but it is still very tiring on the soul. That is why most missions MSF undertakes do not involves doctors staying in areas above a year. After a year it often becomes routine, and if the doctor loses passion for the job not only is it bleak for the doctor but does no good for the patients as well. Think of it as intensive cram school and you’ll get the picture. Doctor Soong went through extremely difficult lows during his time there and almost considered quitting at a time. However, he still extended his three month trial period to a ten month mission. He says that the idea of going back to do the work is still appealing. But when he thinks about it doing it throughout his life may soon lose it’s appeal. He believes that it will be more fulfilling if he can inspire others to follow him the next time he goes back. And that is what he has been doing upon his return to Taiwan – making speeches and showing pictures of his trip to inspire the people in Taiwan to help those in countries less privileged than ours.
Finally he encouraged us to travel widely, best of all solo, and by doing so learn how to solve problems independently. He says that we should start from the easier countries, like Japan or Western Europe, and then gradually work into the more remote and difficult places, like India and Tibet. Basically I believe he is stating this from the viewpoint of one who has had parents who could support such ventures and has benefited greatly from such travels. The things we can do as people who cannot afford such adventures may be by volunteering in local benefits and programs.
Last of all his overall speech tells us that it is important to help, but we must follow our heart in this matter. Only if we are willing to give will the giving be meaningful.
MSF website: http://www.msf.org.au/index.shtml
Latest on AIDS medicine crisis by MSF: http://www.msf.org.au/stories/twfeature/2007/163-twf.shtml
posted by Mignon Chang at 5:05 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home