On June 20th Andy Dennis talked to us about “Doctors without Borders” (a.k.a. Médecins Sans Frontières).

This worldwide humanitarian organisation, started in the 1970s, relies for its funding on individuals and companies, rather than governments, in order to have independence of action. Andy’s highly professional talk reviewed the work done in areas of conflict, where local healthcare resources are overwhelmed by circumstances, where people are unable to get healthcare because of the remoteness of their habitation, and in natural disasters, such as the Haiti earthquake, and epidemics such as the Ebola outbreaks.

Andy described the work he had been involved in as a nurse in Southern Sudan, Uganda and Sierra Leone. He demonstrated the extreme difficulties and dangers to patients and in the work, but focused on the ability to bring individual patients back from near death to happy, smiling, well people.

As well as taking part in the work ‘on site’, Andy described his successful efforts to fundraise for MSF by strenuous long distance bicycle rides through Europe and across USA.