The audience at Alliance Francaise de Trivandrum watched silently as the screen brought back images of the famine in Ethopia in the mid-80s and the genocide in Rwanda. And while the scenes struck a chord, it was the stories that left an impact. Stories about the inner battle one faces when staring at the face of death and how one decides if the decision taken is right or wrong when in the midst of turmoil.
Chanjiv S. Mehta is in a contemplative mood. He too has tales like those in the documentary MSF (UN) Limited . A member of the board of directors of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), India, Chanjiv has served in various missions in Amman, Iraq and Gaza in the Palestinian Territories earlier. The most taxing one was his stint in Gaza as there was a unique security concern, he recalls. Even crossing into Gaza was tough. “And on the way back I was strip searched at Tel Aviv airport.” On his mobile, he has filmed a bomb blast in Iraq; he and his team were on the same road when the blast occurred.
Chanjiv who comes from a family of civil engineers, is the first doctor in the family. “I have always wanted to become a doctor and that too a surgeon,” says the plastic surgeon.
Chanjiv, who was into humanitarian work since his school days, says his joining MSF was a natural progression. A man with “Gandhian principles”, the principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality were what led him to join MSF. “I was working with various international NGOs and had heard of MSF and its line of humanitarian medical work. I applied as soon as MSF started a recruitment office in Delhi.” Although his family was not too pleased with his decision and did not want him to go to places plagued by violence and conflict, “they eventually reconciled to the thought.”
His expertise has helped him. “Plastic and reconstructive surgery are needed skills in the field. I am also trained in obstetrics and basic orthopaedics and trauma.”
The sense of satisfaction in giving back to society is what drives him on despite the disturbing images and often traumatic experiences. “It is not to satisfy my ego or image,” says the man who runs two NGOs of his own and works with numerous others. “One of my NGOs called Gift to Heal focusses on creating awareness and prevention of crime against women.”
Chanjiv spoke about MSF’s programmes in India in various states, for example treatment of HIV/AIDS in Mumbai and Manipur, malnutrition and kala azar in Bihar. With three of his children studying to be doctors, it looks like one of them will be following his footsteps soon. “My elder son has volunteered with MSF as an office volunteer,” says Chanjiv with a touch of pride in his voice.
MSF (UN) Limited was screened as part of MSF’s ‘Who Cares’ campaign to create awareness on the kind of work MSF does.
Extensive field experience
Martin Sloot, General Director, MSF, India was at the screening of the documentary too. Martin has extensive field experience with MSF, having worked for the organisation since 2000 in countries such as Afghanistan, Burundi, Columbia and the Ivory Coast. He has been posted in India since 2008, planning and opening the MSF branch office in India.
“I joined MSF as I was inspired and impressed by the work that MSF carries out. In India, MSF has programmes including those on drug-resistant tuberculosis, mental health, primary health care, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland,” says Martin.
Although MSF’s prime focus is on medical and humanitarian needs, Martin admits that since India’s population is large, MSF cannot treat all of those in need, so it has to make tough choices. “We hence look for projects where we can implement “models of care” that can be duplicated and try to advocate and be a catalyst for change to serve a wider segment of the population.”
Yen for voluntary work
Santhosh Kumar’s first tryst with humanitarian work was when he volunteered as an aid worker in the Latur earthquake that struck Maharasthra. When he heard that MSF was looking for doctors, he volunteered and has been volunteering as an orthopaedic surgeon with MSF since 2003. He has worked in more than 35 countries worldwide with the organisation. Santhosh who is the General Secretary of MSF’s South Asia Regional Association will be leaving for Central African Republic today. “There is a civil war going on there now and there are a lot of trauma cases but no medical facility available. We are going there to help set up a medical facility.”
