I support charities based on the cause they work towards, how efficiently they are run, and if they are recognised as a trustworthy organisation — and I started supporting Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) based on their standing on these three parameters. I originally got to know about their work when they won the Nobel Peace Prize, and I hope they will continue their good work ethically, professionally and with compassion. At this stage, I think all of their projects are worthwhile, and trust them to allocate resources to projects based on their strategy and field requirements. Wish MSF all the best in their efforts globally and in India.

I was impressed by Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when I read about it in 1999 -MSF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the organisation announced the money would go towards raising awareness of and fighting against neglected diseases. I heard about MSF India in 2017 when some of its representatives visited our institute (IIT Jodhpur) seeking donations for the malnutrition campaign in remote areas of India. I hope my contribution helped MSF reach out to the needy. Medical expenses push people towards poverty especially when a natural or human-made disaster strikes them. MSF works for victims in disaster-prone areas and their neutral stance in such cases is also noteworthy. I wish MSF team success in their humanitarian healthcare initiatives and request others to support their tireless efforts to create a healthy world.

It gives me immense pleasure to be associated with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) India for the last two years. The selfless efforts of medical professionals working in remote and rural areas of India, where poor people are suffering from several serious ailments, are praiseworthy. I feel proud to contribute a little for this great cause and urge our countrymen to come forward to help such needy people. We should also be grateful to the ‘Almighty’ for providing us the capability and inner strength to contribute towards humanity. My good wishes to all those associated with this great job.

I came to know about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) 19 years ago through a Pictionary game where my friend drew out a man with a stethoscope in dots and dashes. I lost the game, but MSF, fortunately, went ahead and won the Nobel Peace Prize that year. It also won the admiration of a generation of trainee doctors like me, and made us realise that providing medical care to people who need it the most requires commitment and unflinching dedication. So donating to MSF was a foregone conclusion. It was the least I could do for an organisation which provides healthcare to the most needy. Over the years I have followed MSF’s work on multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Mumbai and malnutrition in Bihar and Jharkhand. I have come to believe that the money I donate to MSF annually is money well-spent. Last year, I was involved in a fundraiser for MSF; it made me realise the difficulties the fundraising team goes through. I would, therefore, recommend MSF to every acquaintance willing to donate for a charitable cause. Without the participation of private donors, MSF would not be able to continue the awe-inspiring humanitarian work that they are involved in currently.

I came to know about Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in early 2016 when a team of interns working for MSF India unit visited me at my office. I was provided a comprehensive overview of the diverse social causes for which MSF India works. I subsequently made a donation for tackling the malnutrition issue plaguing various regions of the country. Since then I have been making annual donations to support diverse causes of MSF India. MSF through its dedicated team of doctors, para-medics and field staff has been doing great work towards ensuring enhanced quality of life for all levels of society. I convey my best wishes to team MSF in general and MSF India in particular.

I wanted to make a small contribution and I was looking for a reliable philanthropic partner through which my little contribution could reach the needy on time. In the meantime, I came to know about Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through one of their representatives who briefed me about the organisation’s work in and outside India. I had already read about MSF in the newspapers, but I decided to find out more about their operations. It is very heartening that an organisation is working without any borders and providing much-needed medical support to the underprivileged. I am happy to have become a part of their mission through my donation.

I am delighted to be part of the community that is supporting MSF’s work around the world and in India. I have lived in the UK for the past 22 years with my husband who works for INMARSAT, a company which provides mobile satellite communications. INMARSAT has supported MSF over the years and I became aware of your work through this association. There is also regular reporting in the British and International media about MSF’s work in war-torn and disaster zones, where there is no governance and little or no infrastructure. Medical care is provided very often by MSF or the International Red Cross in these conditions. I met some MSF representatives on a recent visit to Delhi and was pleased to learn that they are actively involved in a variety of projects in India. The decision to support MSF was a very easy one because I know that this money is going to provide humanitarian relief to anyone and everyone irrespective of their identity, and save lives. Doctors and others who work for this organisation often put their own lives in danger to help others and reach people and places that governments cannot or will not reach. I have considered the work that MSF is carrying out in India. Each of these areas is incredibly important – how can one make a choice between maternal and child healthcare and helping survivors of gender and sexual violence or those suffering from kala azar, pneumonia, TB, HIV/AIDS? The need is great and the resources are few. I am happy to support any of these projects. I would like to congratulate MSF on their Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines and support their case in the High court against the patent granted for the anti-pneumonia vaccine. I have no hesitation in recommending MSF to the public in India and around the world and urge people to donate generously.

I came to know about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) India while surfing the internet but was unable to contribute to the organisation. Luckily one day I was approached by an MSF representative and I made a small contribution towards one of their projects without any hesitation. I am really proud to have become part of the noble services provided by MSF India. I would be really glad if someone from my network became a part of the organisation. I am already making them aware of MSF’s projects in India. My best wishes to MSF India for the important humanitarian work they do. 

I normally spend one month’s pension for charity and I chose Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as a priority. Firstly, MSF has a global imprint. I have personally seen MSF in action in Sri Lanka and elsewhere and I have only praise for those volunteers who take risks to help humanity. I am glad to become part of this noble movement which is absolutely dedicated towards saving lives. I know that though it is a small contribution from me, it will be usefully spent. Finally, I derive immense satisfaction that my little contribution will go a long way in helping humanity.

Every now and then I hear stories of people from remote parts of the country who suffer due to inaccessibility of basic healthcare – either due to location, or cost. Being from a city, this is a privilege that I had taken for granted before. Such news items made me realise how much more work is needed in this area. At around the same time, I happened to get a call from a Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) India volunteer seeking donations. MSF is an organisation of international repute and I had heard of them before, which convinced me to go ahead and donate. The website is filled with information on their various programmes, and I am especially impressed by the work they do towards providing medical care to pregnant women and young children. Donating is quick and simple, and the least one can do, but even these small acts make a big difference when put together. It is with this belief I donate, knowing it helps all the volunteers, who are the true heroes who go the extra mile to execute all the programmes. Kudos to MSF India, and hope they continue doing the great work they do.

It was during my post-graduation days that I first heard of kala azar. A friend from Bihar told me more about this dangerous disease and the work of Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the state. Despite the fact that India accounts for 50 per cent of the global patient burden of kala azar, people are still unaware of this disease. After digging deeper, I found out MSF is one of the few actors working against this disease. After joining MSF last year, I had the opportunity to witness the impact this organisation has had on people’s lives in Bihar. The dedication of our staff and the goodwill it has earned them was truly inspirational. As a mark of respect, I decided to donate a portion of my monthly salary to the organisation and its operations in Bihar. Be it kala azar, Ebola or the Syrian war, MSF is always at the forefront to help the most neglected people living in the most hard-to-reach places. The organisation leaves no stone unturned to reach those who need healthcare the most. I hope MSF will keep up the noble work they are doing.

As a former journalist, I’d heard of MSF’s many programmes bringing medical aid to some of the world’s most isolated, challenging or dangerous places. The tragedies that its staff endured in Afghanistan and Syria, while helping those most in need, had recently focused attention on the organisation and its work. The tweet was to a friend about my plan to run the 2016 Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. An MSF representative noticed it and got in touch – asking if I would run to raise funds for them. I immediately said yes. Several friends had run for charities in other marathons, so I knew this was a great way to raise awareness about a good cause that I cared about. (I also reasoned that this would give me added motivation to get across the finish line!) While the donation process itself was easy, getting people to the donation page was the hard bit. I tapped my professional, personal and social networks; tweeting twice a day for several weeks, posting several times on Facebook and on my Whatsapp groups. The response was slow to begin with. However, as the weeks drew closer, the donations started rolling in. I had expected all the donations to come from friends, co-workers or family. However, I was heartened to see complete strangers who saw my tweets contribute as well. This is fully a reflection of MSF’s credibility with the public. You are doing important, irreplaceable work. Your teams are sacrificing so that others may live. There is no greater cause, and I continue to talk proudly of my association with you.

I have always wanted to contribute towards the betterment and wellness of our society and humanity, either by helping someone individually or by being a part of an organisation. I came to know about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through one of its representatives, who explained the organisation’s medical humanitarian work in different parts of India to me. MSF’s work in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, where they run a mother and child health centre, really appealed to me and motivated me to donate. I wish MSF India more success in their work towards a healthy and happy society.

Sometime back when I had a little bit of surplus money, I decided to donate to an organisation that is helping people who need it the most. I browsed through the work of a few organisations. As an ardent follower of international news, I repeatedly came across one organisation – MSF. Be it a natural calamity or the wars in South Sudan, Yemen, Syria or dangerous diseases like Ebola, this organisation is at the forefront of helping people. They are taking serious risks in serving in these dangerous conditions. There is one unique characteristic which makes this organisation stand out from others – that it does not take any sides. Because of all these good qualities, I chose to donate to MSF. I was not aware at the time of their work in India, but I read up and realised they are doing a wonderful job of providing healthcare in the most neglected regions of India. My respect for MSF increased manifold because of their transparent functioning. During the Nepal earthquake, I made a small contribution with the note “For Nepal earthquake relief”. I got a call from an MSF representative and she explained that the funds collected in India cannot and will not be taken outside India. Then I had to send an authorization mail to approve the use of funds for activities in India. The way MSF stood against EU-Turkey Deal and refused to accept donations from EU member states, I feel proud of my association with the organisation and want to continue being part of its activities. I pledge to contribute in whatever way possible.

I wanted to make a small contribution and I was looking for a reliable philanthropic partner through which my little contribution could reach the needy on time. In the meantime, I came to know about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through one of their representatives who approached me over the phone and briefed me about the organisation’s work in and outside India. I prefer donating towards healthcare because so many people are struggling with pain or illness and are unable to get proper medication in time. I am glad that MSF India is providing quality medication and healthcare support to the disadvantaged. I will continue to support MSF and also spread the word about this movement to all my friends and in my network. My best wishes to your team of doctors and medical staff for their untiring work to save lives.

I am a paediatrician by profession. Being a medical practitioner, I am concerned about matters of healthcare. I got to know about Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières’ (MSF) work in the field of medical humanitarianism a few years back through the media. I liked their work on kala azar, malnutrition, and mother and child healthcare in remote areas of India. I was in search of a credible organisation to donate to on the occasion of my son’s birthday last year. I was contacted by an MSF India representative around the same time and, after receiving detailed information on the organisation, I donated towards their mother and child care project in Chhattisgarh. I strongly recommend supporting MSF’s work in India because of their transparency. I express my sincere thanks to MSF for making a difference in the lives of those who really need help.

I was in search of a credible organisation that delivers healthcare to children and people affected by natural calamities. One day I was contacted by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and after going through their website, their projects and events, I decided to contribute something from my end. After one year of my association with MSF, I got a call from the organisation thanking me for my contribution and explaining the activities conducted in that period. When I heard about the number of people assisted by the organisation, I felt proud to be a part of this noble cause. I would like to thank MSF’s teams for saving lives and providing medical help to those who need it most. I pray for this organisation to help more and more people who need support.

All the best MSF!

I came to know about Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through an executive from their team last year, who introduced me to the organisation and its cause. After a while, I visited their website and looked at some of the projects they run in India and the rest of the world. I have great appreciation for MSF’s work in remote areas of North East India, particularly Manipur, where people fight TB and HIV.

I was also impressed to read about MSF’s profile as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning organisation and decided to contribute towards its project in Bihar on kala azar, a neglected tropical disease which can be fatal if left untreated. Their dedication towards medical care really impressed me, which is why I decided to make a donation again this year. I wish them good luck so they can continue their great work!

While surfing the internet via Stumbleupon some time back, I came across the Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) website and learnt about the organisation and its work for the first time. Immediately I felt an urge to contribute, although in a minimal way, to their work. The fact that MSF works in conflict-ridden areas and war/calamity zones appealed to me the most because usually medical professionals are not inclined to focus on these regions for various justifiable reasons. The contents of the website range of an honest purpose and selflessness which attracted me. Nowadays NGOs are floated for various reasons, sometimes being more hype-oriented than to serve people. MSF does not seem so. I have moral support for all the MSF programmes – be it in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kashmir or the North-East. In particular, the services provided in conflict-torn areas are very necessary from a social perspective since the common people in those regions are often forsaken by both sides to the conflict. Being a professional myself, although in a different field, I fully appreciate the sacrifice of the people involved in MSF projects in devoting the time and efforts necessary, as well as the risk undertaken in such projects. I definitely intend to, and have, recommended MSF to various colleagues and friends for the above reasons.

I found out about MSF through an amazing coincidence. On my birthday in December 2015, I was surfing the internet to find out what happened worldwide on the same day in 1971 – the year I was born. That’s how I came to know about the inception of Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Through their website, I got to know a little more about the organisation and its work. Later, I was contacted by an MSF representative and I was happy to make a small contribution towards one of its projects. The stories of doctors coming forward to provide relief to people in distress touched my heart. This year again I have donated towards its project in Chhattisgarh which provides care, among others, for vulnerable mothers and children. I am overwhelmed to be a part of this noble movement. I appreciate MSF India for its dedication towards improving access to healthcare in remote areas of India by providing people an adequate humanitarian medical service. I wish them all the best.

I felt happy making a humble contribution to MSF India. It was heartening to see photographs of MSF India’s doctors and nurses serve people in tribal regions of India e.g. Chhattisgarh. I am particularly delighted by MSF India’s mother and child care programmes wherein necessary medical care is provided to pregnant women in remote regions. I wish MSF India grows in its efforts in reaching far-flung areas with its Midas touch. My best wishes to your team of doctors and medical care givers for their unending, untiring hard work that signifies MSF India’s unbounded spirit to uplift humanity without a care for caste, creed, nationality and religion.

I have known about MSF for a long time and have been quite impressed with the lifesaving work done by them. I was very happy when I was approached by the MSF team and promptly decided to contribute towards their efforts. I also made known to them that I wish to support the cause of MSF in whatever way possible, including as a medical caregiver. I am particularly excited about the ‘Who Cares?’ campaign of MSF India. I like its spirit that everyone deserves access to healthcare, and I would like to join this effort with all my might.

I’m really happy to have been able to support the efforts of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). When Dr Unni Karunakara, MSF International President (2010-2013), cycled from Jammu and Kashmir to Kerala last year, I biked along with him from Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi to Gurgaon. While I had donated, I wanted to show solidarity with MSF in any other way I could. I’m fascinated by the work that MSF is doing in various areas – mother and child healthcare in particular. India is a developing nation, and there are pockets of people who are in great need of medical help. MSF’s efforts there are highly commendable.

I like the idea of MSF. I like what MSF does, and the fact that they do not have any religion. It’s a worthy cause for everybody to get involved, and I’m glad I’m involved with it. The exhibition in itself is a straightforward punch in the gut which actually pulls the breath out of you. It reminds one that a lot more needs to be done for people who have no medical care.

I am a trained clinical psychologist. I first heard of MSF several years ago when some others and I floated a private voluntary trust. I remember one of our trustees had brought in information about MSF. I decided to donate because my orientation has always been towards humanitarian, unbiased service where it is needed. As one grows older it becomes important to pay attention to issues around you. MSF works with people who don’t have access to necessary healthcare. This makes me feel like if there are people who need my help, I should donate. Even we, as health professionals, sometimes don’t know enough of our own culture and surroundings, it’s sad. The work that MSF does in the north-east of India or with diseases like HIV/AIDS and Kala-azar, for instance, is not really lucrative but they still do it. It supports my belief that providing healthcare where few people go is necessary, and MSF bears proof of my conviction – it is internationally oriented, impartial and goes where nobody else is. *MSF stands for Médecins Sans Frontières, translated into English as Doctors Without Borders.

I donated to MSF’s mother and child care programme because I really liked the work MSF is doing in remote areas where there are no hospitals, and especially for something as neglected as the plight of disadvantaged mothers and children. To me, childbearing is a great and significant thing. The fact that so many mothers in neglected and remote areas undergo numerous hardships during their 9 months of pregnancy, and that too without proper medical care, is reason enough for me to try and help in whichever way I can. MSF is doing good work for this cause, working with neglected populations and attending to these mothers and children who cannot access and afford medical care. I remember the first time I heard of MSF – an executive from MSF was visiting my workplace and he spoke about the organization. Their dedication to medical care really impressed me, which is why I decided to make a donation. I have since recommended MSF’s programmes to several people – my boss also decided to donate to MSF as a result.

For Firefox Bikes, it is beneficial to associate with organizations such as MSF, as we’re able to bring relevant networks that exist around cycling to participate in such events, and through them support MSFs work in India and around the World. Besides being well-organized, Cycle for MSF made the right connect, in the sense that riders were able to identify with the information that was disseminated at the event. The fact that MSF has programmes in India varying from fighting the neglected disease of kala azar in Bihar to increasing HIV/AIDS and TB care in Mumbai and Manipur – shows that it indeed goes where the need is greatest. Being able to deliver quality medical humanitarian care around the world, the way MSF does, is commendable. While everybody does his/her part in supporting causes, creating awareness is vital too, which an event like Cycle for MSF did well. In the future, Firefox Bikes would want to be a part of more such cycling events organized by MSF.

The knowledge that my money is being used to save lives everyday by providing better health needs and improving access to healthcare in India, is greatly satisfying. I was introduced to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through my relative who greatly assured me about the impact of MSF’s programmes in India. I then decided to contribute to MSF and support their programmes such as mental health counselling in Jammu and Kashmir and increasing HIV/AIDS and TB care in Mumbai and Manipur. Having previously supported other organisations, I appreciate the fact that MSF communicates ground realities through it’s programmes. The knowledge that my money is being used to save lives everyday by providing better health needs and improving access to healthcare in India, is greatly satisfying.

I got a call from an executive from your team, who introduced me to Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and its mission. I searched online for MSF India and I looked at some of your projects. I have great appreciation for your work in remote areas of Bihar and Manipur, where you fight malnutrition, kala azar, TB and HIV. I believe that these parts are not getting facilities that we have access to in cities like Mumbai and Delhi. I was convinced that MSF is a genuine organisation and so I decided to contribute. I have a deep respect for doctors because they are life-savers; they do something no one else can do. They are crucial when it comes to the health of vulnerable populations. So I have special respect for this profession in general, and for MSF in particular, for making a big effort in this direction. I also appreciate your efforts to interact with donors and make them know more about the work you do. I will certainly inform my friends about MSF.

MSF wasn’t unknown to me because my niece had worked with the MSF programme in Manipur and in Papua New Guinea and Iraq. When I came to know at a film screening organised by MSF in Delhi that I also could contribute by donating, it was a decision I immediately took. Children’s health is an area which deserves more attention, and I saw examples of MSF’s work with children who had kala azar. I also really liked the fact that majority of the funds MSF receives are used in the implementation of its programmes. To me, MSF sends a very powerful message. This is medicine really in the service of all humanity, no matter where the patients are, no matter what the political situation is. To me, this is a very powerful thing.

I was a student till very recently, and I was looking for a positive way to use my earnings from my first job. While I didn’t know about MSF earlier, I was really pulled into understanding the organisation’s work at the Who Cares? exhibition. There were doctors from the field sharing their experience. What I also noticed with MSF is that there is no aligning to any particular agenda; there is no bias towards one cause. During my student days, I was very close to social issues – especially those related to women. I know money is the least one can do since we are not actually present where there is a need. Donating is the best way I could do something about it and among other organisations, I was most convinced by MSF’s work.

I have known about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for several years now and have read about some of its work in disaster and conflict areas. Being a part of civil society networks that are focused on marginalised groups, my friends have shared information about the organisation over formal and informal discussions. Over time, my doctor colleagues have also informed me about MSF. I decided to contribute to MSF simply because of the kind of work it does – providing succour and healthcare to people who have no access to it. The MSF family puts itself at great risk while doing this, and I feel fortunate to have been able to make a small contribution towards this effort. My work relates to food and nutrition. Currently, hunger and malnutrition levels across the world are at unacceptable levels, with women and children being most affected. This is a serious violation of human rights and that is why I appreciate MSF’s nutrition programmes. Besides, hunger and malnutrition have implications for peace, justice and development. When one person eats and the other watches, conflicts are inevitable. I recommend MSF because of the confidence I have in its commitment to and delivery of healthcare to those who need it most. All of us who are fortunate should do our bit for those who are less privileged.

I knew about the organisation’s work in the field of medical humanitarianism but heard more about Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) through the media. I think it’s commendable that MSF teams go to places where help is most needed in terms of medical assistance, such as nurturing healthcare for mothers and children in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Besides, I also contributed to MSF’s emergency response during the Jammu and kashmir floods and followed its extensive work in the Ebola outbreak. At MSF, the interaction and welfare with donors post-contribution convinces many about the authenticity and reliability of the organisation. A few others I know, who are truly and genuinely interested in MSF’s work, have also donated to ensure MSF continues to carry out its medical humanitarian activities.

I found out about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) earlier this year during its emergency intervention in Nepal. I received some literature about your activities and also found out about your work in India through it. I felt it is a worthy cause and decided to get involved with the organisation.
Recently, after the attack in Kunduz, Afghanistan, my association became deeper. I was really shocked to know about the deaths. You are doing very necessary humanitarian work in the area and yet the security forces did not realise its importance and bombed the hospital. It is very sad for everyone. After the security issues are resolved, I hope you are able to resume delivering humanitarian assistance.
I would definitely recommend MSF to my friends and colleagues. I want others to support the cause that MSF represents

I have known about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières / (MSF) for many years. But I got to know the details of some of MSF’s projects in different parts of the world from a very close friend of mine. She works with the organisation as a psychotherapist to support field workers. It made me realise the sensitivity MSF obviously has for its field workers who work in very difficult conditions. Since I am a child psychotherapist, I also know about the mother and child nutrition programmes MSF runs. My friend asked if I would like to make a donation and I agreed, because MSF represents a coming together of my beliefs about the work I do and about community based initiatives. I will definitely recommend MSF to friends and family. I also teach psychotherapy and I have been talking about MSF as a potential field of experience for my students as well. So at many different levels MSF has become a very necessary organisation for me at the moment.

I have always known about Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) but I considered it more seriously after I looked through GiveWell, a website that analyses the transparency of different organisations and gives readers a sense of who has a better impact for every dollar. It’s something I research every once in a while for disaster relief, and that’s where I found MSF mentioned. I was encouraged to donate on seeing the work being done by MSF.

I like to donate to organisations that are transparent and allocate funds in the right way. With MSF, I didn’t give money for a specific project in India. I trust the organisation to spend it wisely, since as an outsider I might not have as much on-the-ground experience to make that decision. Having said that, I am eager to find out more about MSF’s work in India. I know a little about your efforts in Nepal, as your Donor Care Officer had updated me about the different teams you had sent – including surgical and mental health teams. When I saw discussions on Nepal and where to give I explicitly recommended MSF. If it comes up in conversations, I do point out that MSF is a good option for donors.

During Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) 2014, like each year, a sizeable number of NGOs had partnered with the event. In spite of going through the list a few times over, I could not narrow down to one. Every cause looked good. Every cause deserved money and support. Every cause was reasonably compelling. I ended up skipping the philanthropic aspect in that event.
Although I had come across Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) a few times in the past, my first interaction with the organisation happened at a screening of a documentary called “Fire in the Blood”. The story, focussed on the deadly AIDS crisis in Africa, was a moving one. It made me think further about how fickle life is without the availability of speedy medical assistance at the time of large-scale crisis. The film intensified my concern about access to emergency healthcare.
The film screening was organised by MSF India and they naturally fell in place as the organisation that I’d like to potentially support. I went on to read their charter and liked the clarity with which they had asserted the principles they uphold. One of the most important one for me is that they strive to keep the cause above all else, pledging their impartiality towards gender, race, religion, creed or political convictions.
While my knowledge of the work MSF does specifically in India is limited, I am quite happy about the projects undertaken globally and the larger mission they’re working towards, especially providing emergency healthcare. In ADHM 2015 when I noticed MSF as one of the partnered NGOs, I was convinced that I’d support them and their cause.

I belong to an entitled world which believes that Facebook activism can change the world. We sit in our comfortable offices, wishing someone else would roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. On a normal weekday like today, MSF India contacted me on Twitter asking if I would be interested in raising funds for them as a half marathoner at Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2015. I decided to speak to them and figure out what it entails. I hadn’t heard of MSF until then, which is surprising because everyone else around me seemed to know the good work they do.
As a doctor’s daughter who aspired to make a career in the medical profession as a teenager (but, obviously) I understand the challenges of the field. I think medicine is the only profession where one’s work goes hand in hand with contributing to the society. India is Polio free today because of doctors who dedicate their leisure (which is anyway at a paucity) hours for the government programme.
The idea that MSF is unbiased and neutral in a conflict appeals to me the most. It is a tough stand to take and to justify in today’s times. MSF brings humanity into conflict areas where it is lacking the most. There cannot be anything more noble than that. We tend to forget that ultimately we are all human beings residing on the same planet.
Raising funds has been the most frustrating experience of my life. To get people to part with money which will not benefit them directly is truly difficult. Whether the funds benefitted MSF or not, they have changed me. I am a regular donor with MSF now and contribute to fundraisers I come across on social media. I look forward to raising funds again next year and would strongly recommend that everyone try it. It will change you and benefit many others too.

I was first introduced to Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) almost 20 years ago through my brother who volunteered for MSF. I recently became aware of MSF’s work in India a year ago and have been supporting them since. What I like about MSF is that it is a principled organisation and operates abiding by values of Independence, Impartiality and neutrality. MSF reaches out to people who are desperately in need of healthcare, be it remote areas and difficult geographies; patients trapped in a conflict zone; in scenarios of disasters and epidemics and even to populations who are ignored or neglected. As a donor, what I appreciate most about MSF is the financial prudence it conducts itself with. Eighty per cent of the funds raised by them are spent on social missions and 20 per cent on administrative expenses. I support many NGOs both financially and as a consultant and while supporting financially it is always a concern that how much of it actually reaches the beneficiaries. The fact that MSF maintains this ratio of 80:20 and is transparent about its finances strengthens my trust in the organisation. I will continue to support MSF and will also spread the word about them to other donors.

I came to know about MSF India when one of its representatives approached me in March 2015. I went through the MSF India website to know more about its cause and became fascinated by the initiative taken by MSF doctors in providing medical care to the suffering population. After getting to know about the noble work done by MSF India for the disadvantaged in different parts of India, including in Asansol in my own state, West Bengal, I decided to become part of this proud movement. While my own contribution is insignificant in terms of the expenditure being incurred for the treatment of millions, donating for a humanitarian cause has a great significance in our lives. I pray to God that more people donate to MSF so that its doctors can treat more people in need of medical care and help restore dignity to them.

The first thing I will like to say about MSF is that I am very impressed with the quality and service delivery of MSF. Have I experienced their delivery first hand? No. But as a doctor, when I see them working for patients of Ebola – a disease with very high mortality – when no other organisation could do it; when I see them offering healthcare to people in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen because the conflict has destroyed all other means to healthcare; and when I see them working on infectious diseases like HIV, TB, hepatitis C because deaths from these diseases are easily preventable, I am assured of their commitment to healthcare and the quality of their service because these are not easy projects to execute successfully.
I first became aware of MSF through the TIME magazine cover story on person of the year which featured the Ebola health worker and have followed their work closely since. I have been supporting them financially and would strongly recommend other people to also donate for their work in India. Indians are rich but many parts of India remain poor with limited or no access to healthcare and MSF tries to address this gap in access to healthcare in India by reaching out to those who need it most. They work in remote areas, they provide healthcare to rural populations, they also work on diseases like HIV and TB which are still highly prevalent in our country and as donors we can do our bit to support them. .

MSF (Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières) — the logo says it all. Doctors and medicine are amply available in cities but they need to reach those who need them the most in remote areas. The organisation is doing a wonderful job by bringing some level of comfort to the lives of those who perhaps have no other means of getting the right treatment than through MSF’s team of dedicated medical personnel and volunteers.

I want to thank the whole Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) team as they have given me the opportunity to share my views with others. It was in 2014 that I got connected with the MSF team. I wanted to contribute for the cause of children and pregnant women on the occasion of my son’s birthday but I was in search of a proper organisation. I was contacted by MSF around the same time; they told me in detail about their activities in India, which includes running a clinic for mothers and children in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, where MSF provides ante- and post-natal care. It was as if my dream came true and I found a way to reach all those children who are like my son, and thus my journey with MSF began. I must once again thank MSF India for their great contribution towards society and mankind. I feel grateful to be a part of this organisation accurately named as “Doctors Without Borders

Despite great advances in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, sections of societies worldover do not have access to even basic healthcare. MSF does an outstanding service in reaching out to people who are suffering due to the lack of medical attention, the availability of which most of us take for granted. They work in often remote and at times dangerous places. It is indeed a privilege for me to be associated with MSF!