U$ In A£ri€a

As things are getting quite heated in France now here are some fun facts about MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) or Doctors Without Borders:

• It was started by a select group of French doctors and journalist.
• MSF is considered the largest medical organization in a number of African countries.
• MSF is the largest independent medical humanitarian organization in the world
• MSF first mission and history began with Nigeria's Biafra civil war.

A focus with MSF will be a quote from Frank Smithuis, MD, the "country manager and medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma."

Frank Smithuis, MD

Why is MSF in Myanmar?

MSF wants to work for the most vulnerable, disadvantaged groups in a country. This is why we are working with people in Rakhine State, particularly the Rakhine Muslims who are in a very difficult situation. They don't have citizenship, so they are not free to travel. They have less access to health services than people do in other areas in the country. The project there is mainly for malaria - we treat more than 100,000 malaria cases per year. But recently we have also started some clinics for patients with sexually transmitted diseases and for people with HIV/AIDS.

Let me repeat once more. Frank Smithuis, MD mentioned,

MSF wants to work for the most vulnerable, disadvantaged groups in a country.

This will be the key to to how I will approach Niger from this point on. MSF did do significant work in Niger for 2004-2006. So they are not considered newcomers by a long shot. Lastly,

Who is the most most vulnerable, disadvantaged groups in Niger?

Everybody must be since Niger is considered one of the poorest nation on Earth. Given but that may not be the case with food aid.