Doctors Without Borders team raises funds, create awareness

Doctors Without Borders Southern Africa, internationally known as Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), is conducting a fundraising and awareness campaign at Mall of the North until next Saturday.
Team leader, Michelle Ndlovu and canvassers Kabelo Moloi, Thandeka Mmbadi, Lerato Molutsi and Daniel Flink, set up their stall on the upper level of the mall on Tuesday and solicited donations to a minimum of R75 from passers-by. Although it was only the first day of the project, Ndlovu said that she looked forward to a successful outcome.
“The purpose of the drive is to create awareness for the work that MSF does and to recruit sustainable donors to enable MSF to do its work in 67 countries over the world,” Ndlovu explained and added that MSF’s humanitarian work is focused on the delivery of emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters or exclusion from health care.
According to Ndlovu, MSF was founded in 1971 by a group of French doctors and journalists who were concerned about the shortcomings of international aid in conflict and disasters. MSF operated in South Africa since 1999 when it became involved in operations focused on the treatment of HIV/Aids.
According to Ndlovu, 1 400 students at seven South African medical schools were members of Friends of MSF by 2017 and MSF reached an online community of over 160 000 people through its social media platforms. “By 2017, more than 70 000 individuals in Southern Africa have donated to MSF at least once since 2009 and contributed more than R110 million to our live saving operations,” Ndlovu added.
Ndlovu may be reached on 067 077 6707.

Story and photos: BARRY VILJOEN
>>barryv.observer@gmail.com