A vast majority of work to help progress the safety of international health is performed by non-governmental organizations, or NGOs. Services done by NGOs include but are not limited to direct health care, community potable water, vitamin supplementation, and mitigation of endemic and epidemic infectious diseases and malnutrition.
1. What are some of the world’s biggest and most influential NGOs?
a. Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders):
An organization that believes that all people who are injured or sick deserve to be treated by doctors with the best health care possible, regardless of race, creed, religion, or political affiliation and the needs of these people outweigh the respects of national borders.
b. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC):
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ICRC is a private humanitarian institution that protects the victims of international and internal armed conflicts and assists them with health care by trained doctors.
c. International Medical Corps (IMC):
A global humanitarian nonprofit organization established by volunteer doctors and nurses. The purpose of the IMC is to provide health care to poor regions and trains local health care workers with the goal of creating self-reliant medical services in places that are underprivileged.
d. Oxfam:
The goal of Oxfam is to find solutions to poverty and injustice by setting up donations for clothing and food.
e. Partners in Health (PIH):
A Boston-based health care organization providing a “preferential option for the poor”. The PIH provides proper health care from doctors to the poor by maintaining strong relationships with sister companies.
f. Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere):
An international health care organization founded in the United States in 1958. Project HOPE created the first hospital ship where doctors, nurses, and technical staff provided health care and training to people in each country it visited.
2. What are some of the dangers NGOs face?
NGOs usually are formed with humanitarians and doctors knowing full well that they are usually putting themselves in harm’s way to provide services to people who are in need. For example, Medicines Sans Frontiers has lost many members in the Darfur area and the organization International Medical Corps was created to provide aid to Afghan people after the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.
3. What are some other roles NGOs play for developing countries?
NGOs also help develop sustainable health care solutions through training programs for underdeveloped countries. The Center for International Rehabilitation has provided training for Iraqi physical therapists, doctors, and rehabilitation clinic managers. These trainees are then able to provide health care for amputees, spinal and head injury patients in their home country.
4. What is the difference between NGOs and Missionaries?
The main basis of NGOs is that they are a group of humanitarians, doctors, and nurses who provide services based solely upon need, without political, ethnic, or religious discriminations. On the other hand, missionary organizations usually perform tasks as a part, for example as a part of to further the goals of a religious organization.