Doctors Without Borders – UAE regional office marks International Women’s Day

WAM: The photo gallery of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) opened at the headquarters of the International Humanitarian City in Dubai entitled “8 for the 8th of March”, on the occasion of the International Women Day, which falls on the 8th of March of each year.

The gallery includes eight different photos highlighting female medical workers, midwives, refugees, and patients. These pictures were taken from different MSF projects such as Iraq, Lebanon, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Central Mediterranean Sea and Bali. The photo gallery will continue for a week, until the 18th of this month.

On International Women’s Day, Mario Stephan, Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders, UAE regional office, described its importance, saying, “International Women’s day is the opportunity for us to shed the light on all the challenges women face in accessing complete and unhindered healthcare around the world.”

On this occasion, Giuseppe Saba, CEO of International Humanitarian City welcomed the opportunity to celebrate with IHC Members the International Women’s Day and host a dedicated photo exhibition organised by the regional office of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières which highlights the achievements of women in the field of humanitarian work in different parts of the world.

Saba said, “We are pleased to celebrate the International Women’s Day at the offices of the International Humanitarian City. Throughout history, women have played a remarkable and indispensable role during crisis and wars that some nations have gone through, and have effectively contributed to saving lives, rebuilding, and spreading the spirit of optimism and hope in the people who suffered and still suffering from repercussions of catastrophes and wars.”

Furthermore, today the team of Doctors Without Borders – Regional Office in the UAE will be screening a documentary film entitled “Lucky to Be Alive” for the students of Manipal Academy of Higher Education – Dubai Campus. The documentary film showcases the stories of women victims of hunger and violence in northwestern Nigeria.

Moreover, Rasha Ahmad, the Communications Manger in MSF UAE, described the occasion by saying, “As much as I feel there should not be a day as such, because every day should be an occasion to reflect on women’s contributions to their communities, families and workplaces; still the international women’s day is an international remarkable occasion to remind us of women’s role, needs and challenges.

“As a woman and a humanitarian, working with Doctors Without Borders for over 6 years, I feel privileged and empowered by the models of women I meet in my workplace either they are colleagues or from the communities we are supporting. They are a real source of inspiration. And this is one of the reasons why the team of Doctors Without Borders in the UAE is planning this diverse set of activities with different partners in the UAE like the International Humanitarian City Dubai and Manipal University.

“These activities are to connect, narrate and reflect the stories of women with an appreciation message to all those who are supporting the women in their life missions.”