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Post-Conflict
Post-Conflict
Just what does Post-Conflict mean? For me, it sometimes looks and feels much more like international development as there isn’t the same sense of urgency you might find in conflict zones. The ‘just do it’ of an emergency is replaced by budget constraints and planning and proper paperwork. The problems and contextual issues are no longer so obvious and I have to go looking to find them.
Sometimes it also feels a bit more like a job and I feel a bit less like a humanitarian in action. I can spend entire days sorting out overtime hours or writing monthly reports or counting pills and this certainly doesn’t feel like savings lives or alleviating suffering, as in the MSF mandate. It is even possible to go days without leaving the compound or actually seeing any patients or feeling a sense of urgency in what we do.
However, it is all so relevant. Without MSF, the health care in the area would be very limited. No surgery. No patient transfers. No blood transfusions. No free medicine. No testing. No treatment. And the population really has nothing. They survive in grass huts on subsistence agriculture. The mosquito net distributed by MSF is one of very few possessions. So many more people would die if MSF was not working here. Post-conflict medical support is critical to ease the continued vulnerability of the population, to enhance their productivity and facilitate the rebuilding process.
Post-conflict work seems to find its way into the gray zone between international development and humanitarian relief work. It may not catch as many headlines but it is a big part of MSF and plays a vital and often forget role in international assistance. It is also what I am experiencing for the first time here in Shamwana.
Waiting for the dry season
Tags: conflict, post-conflict, project management
February 17th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Amazing story. Fantastic work you’re doing. I’m in awe.
Any examples of traditional medicines/treatments you can share?
February 21st, 2009 at 11:37 am
Hey Todd,
Although traditional medicines are widely used in the area, we are just starting to incorporate this into our program. It is being done through a combined effort by our Mental Health and Outreach teams and will be a bit more comprehensive in scope. Looking at acceptance of western vs. non-western treatment methods by the population, sensitization about what we are doing and why, looking at what the traditional healers are doing and how we can also learn from them.
Most specifically, this program will be used to hopefully develop a wider acceptance of blood transfusions and blood donations. This is not really accepted or condoned by the traditional healers and can have very significant consequences to our patients.
I also hope to learn more as this is an exciting deliverable for our project in 2009!
February 26th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Hi. I was going through many blogs here and I have been fascinated by the wonderful collection of testemonies you guys have presented. Most honestly, I think they should be organized into a book. People should become more aware of what is going on around the world and I belive the personal perspectives of people “in the field” is a great way to achieve that. However, as I was reading, there was one thing missing for me: what was the motivation, the internal drive that lead you to join MSF, to go to Congo? Was there something specific, or a general willingness to help people?
I’d be very glad if you could answer me that question. I’ll be posting this question to several other in field doctors, to understand diferent perspectives. thanks
March 8th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Hello Patricia,
I have a blog entry on its way to answer your question. Always good to know what people on the other end of this exchange are thinking!
A book is a great idea and there are a many good ones out there. I have personally read the following two and absolutely recommend them both…
- “An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action in the 21st century” by James Orbinsky (2008). Dr. Orbinsky has a long history with MSF including Medical Coordinator in Somalia in 1992 and Head of Mission for MSFH in Rwanda in 1994. He was also the President of MSF in 1999 when we were awared the Nobel Peace Prize. This book is a pretty powerful recollection of some incredible times…and also gets into the polictical side of MSF and Aid.
- “Hope in Hell: inside the World of Doctors Without Borders” written by Dan Bortolotti (2004) is a frank collection of stories from MSF field staff in various projects across the world. He writes to try to answer your very question as to what we do and why.