Médecins du Monde run programs both in Greece, supporting refugees, immigrants, and destitute people who cannot access the healthcare system, and in developing countries of the world.

Specifically, the programs of MDM are divided into the following categories:

Crises: responding to crises which severely affect the health of the people. We distinguish four different types of crises: crises in the section of health (AIDS, epidemics), political crises which bring up violence (Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine etc.), economic crises which prevent the access to medical care (HIV -AIDS drugs), as well as environmental crises (nuclear etc.)

Emergencies: responding to humanitarian emergent situations, natural disasters and wars/conflicts providing humanitarian aid which covers vital needs, ensuring the survival of populations in danger.

Programs of Reconstruction: helping local people to reconstruct and restore the healthcare system of their country after an emergency call by reconstructing Health Centers and Hospitals, providing pharmaceutical material and medical equipment, training of local health personnel.

Long-term Developmental Programs: these programs aim to provide long-term and permanent solutions by facing the long-range consequences of poverty and exclusion from medical care. The specific programs include the support of local healthcare systems, the training of local health personnel focusing on matters of health and hygiene.

The cycle of life of a program

The functioning and the founding of a program, the monitoring and the supervision of its application and its completion… Each of the above is a separate stage which follows its own rules and principles.

Research

Before a program of MDM begins, a thorough research is done. If a decision to intervene is made, then MDM elect a coordinator who, in turn, sets the range of the humanitarian help, the duration of the program, the criteria of application and its completion.

Start and Founding of a program

The coordinator of the program (a volunteer with a wide range of experiences and missions) sets the goals of the mission, the frequency of the supervision and the indicators of efficiency. In cooperation with the Department of Missions, located in the Central Office of the organization in Athens, they recommend a team and a field officer. As far as the emergent missions go, the intervention in a country is initially supported financially by the organization’s own resources. Afterwards, the manager of the missions (responsible for the monitoring of the program from Athens’ department) seeks out financial aid by international founders, enterprises and local authorities.

Application

The coordinator of the program and the manager of the missions monitor the progress of the written reports. They regularly visit the field of the mission to supervise and, if needed, to alter the actions on the spot. On the base of the reports, MDM will decide whether to change or complete the program.

Completion of the Program

All of the programs, whether they are emergencies or developmental, at some point are to be completed. Thus, the organization schedules on time the completion of a program. Strict procedures are followed for the completion of the MDM programs. These procedures oversee to the timely information of the individuals to be helped and the local cooperators, the transfusion of expertise to the local employees, as well as the transportation of the equipment.