Local resident completes Doctors Without Borders assignment
Whitney Ward of Paso Robles has completed a three-month assignment.
Whitney Ward oversaw operations in Palestine
– Paso Robles resident Whitney Ward works for international non-profit Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). This organization has provided medical care for those facing insecure and conflict-driven situations since 1971 and is called Doctors Without Borders in English.
He recently completed a three-month assignment focused on Palestine for MSF. Ward operated out of Jerusalem and had responsibilities for Gaza and the West Bank.
“The spiraling violence and military incursions in the West Bank do not receive as much press as the war in Gaza but the two theaters are part of the same conflict. The West Bank sees daily military incursions [and] operations resulting in significant collateral damage, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and civilian casualties. MSF teams support regional hospitals, provide medical training to paramedics and first responders and offer mental health services. Our teams are working in highly insecure environments and face multiple risks, [such as] direct and indirect violence and the associated physical, mental [and] emotional stresses,” Ward said.
MSF water and sanitation agent Youssef Al-Khishawi in Gaza. Used with permission from MSF.
Ward is the MSF Palestine Head of Mission; his work included coordinating all MSF operations in Gaza and the West Bank. He also led negotiations with the United States State Department, the Israeli military and civil sectors, and other entities. Other members of the team Ward led were in positions working in sectors such as medical, finance, human resource, and logistics.
“The context is absolutely heartbreaking: the level of destruction and the complete dismantling of the entire healthcare system, tens of thousands of innocent civilians killed, countless women and children. MSF is struggling to provide life-saving medical services within this unfathomably dangerous and insecure environment,” Ward said.
Previous work assignments Ward has held include being the Head of Mission in Sierra Leone, where there was a focus on decreasing maternal and child mortality rates, an emergency coordinator, aimed at assessing prevention and control of infection in Houston nursing homes, and a field coordinator, providing humanitarian aid for Mozambican refugees in Malawi. When he returns to Paso Robles between international MSF assignments, he enjoys the local wine and spending time in the community.
“My career with MSF has brought me around the world, working in the most dire of contexts, [such as] countries ravaged by conflict, famine and poverty. Juxtaposed beside the worst manifestations of human nature are the most beautiful. The strength, generosity and kindness of the human spirit is truly inspiring and uplifting,” said Ward, adding that “I have received much more than I have given. MSF is the most respected and capable international medical humanitarian organization, delivering life-saving services to populations in distress. I would encourage my community to visit the MSF website and explore ways to support the medical mission.”
For more information about MSF, visit their website here.
