Doctors of the World works with the most vulnerable populations the world over and manages three types of programmes: crisis or emergencies, rehabilitation, and development.
| Crisis or emergency programmes |
These currently represent 40% of Doctors of the World's international work.
They relate to crisis situations (natural disasters, epidemics, armed conflict, etc), and involve immediate medical and logistical action: medical and psychological care, additional medical supplies, sanitation, etc.
Depending on the context, the teams are generally made up of:
In the capital city:
- 1 general coordinator
- 1 general medical coordinator
- 1 general logistical coordinator
- 1 general manager
- 1 human rights specialist
In an outpost:
- several site coordinators
- surgeons, doctors, nurses and midwives
- logisticians
- managers
For overseas volunteers, these programmes involve:
- A rapid departure (between 24 hours' and 1 week's notice)
- Providing treatment, organising treatment, and rehabilitating local infrastructures
- A short period (2-3 months) on the ground as these programmes are generally tiring, both physically and psychologically.
| Rehabilitation and development programme |
These programmes account for 60% of Doctors of the World's international work.
These have two essential principles:
Complementary intervention:
Our mandate is to promote populations' health and reinforce their access to quality healthcare by working together with local personnel with knowledge of practices and cultures, to support (and not replace) training, management, organisation, etc.
To implement integrated and sustainable programmes:
NGOs can only be present for a limited time and programmes must continue after they leave. This means that our intervention must consider local context (networks, organisations, healthcare systems, sanitation, etc) and take account of local partners' capacity to renew technically, organisationally, and financially. Overseas teams must therefore work in close partnership with local workers to build realistic, shared, and sustainable solutions.
Some programmes aim to restore the quality of healthcare access following a crisis situation.
Intervention can consist either of:
- Aiding physical and psychological recovery, or
- Rebuilding hygiene and social structures (premises, materials) to guarantee basic healthcare services for the population. These programmes tend to develop in the medium-term.
Other programmes take place over a longer period and aim to provide sustainable solutions for particularly vulnerable populations.
They often focus on common practices in a variety of areas and address both physical and psychological aspects of healthcare.
- Improving access to treatment for refugee and displaced populations
- Promoting women's and children's health
- Promoting minority health
- Tackling endemics, including Aids
- Reducing risks relating to drug addiction.
For overseas volunteers, rehabilitation programmes involve:
- Spending a minimum of 6 months overseas (posts are renewable every 6 months)
- A role involving organisation, management, and training.
For overseas volunteers, development-based programmes involve:
- Spending a year overseas (renewable)
- Work based on setting up integrated healthcare projects.
Rehabilitation and development programmes use smaller teams than emergency programmes.
They are made up of:
- 1 medical or non-medical coordinator
- 1 or more doctors, nurses, and midwives
- 1 logistician/manager
- 1 national team with advanced skills and responsibilities
