Medicine for Peace

Medicine for Peace (MFP) is a non-profit, tax-exempt (501 c 3) medical relief and humanitarian organization founded in 1991. Its establishment was a direct response to the health crisis of Iraqi children following the Gulf War. The organization describes itself as a medical relief and advocacy organization that develops medical and mental health programs in war zones and underserved communities worldwide, driven by skilled volunteers and trained local health professionals. MFP's work spans several regions and populations. It has cared for women and children following the wars in Iraq and Bosnia, and after natural disasters in Haiti. Its comprehensive Women's and Maternal Health Program has delivered health care to more than 12,000 Haitian women. The organization also initiated mental health programs for traumatized children in Bosnia and educates children from impoverished families in Haiti and the United States. Its clinic provides forensic examinations as well as medical and psychiatric referrals to victims of torture, and it builds alliances with social service partners to rehabilitate torture and trauma victims seeking asylum in the United States. Beyond direct care, MFP advocates for the voiceless: it uncovers and publicizes human rights violations and advocates for social justice for oppressed peoples, including people seeking asylum and those in countries under authoritarian regimes. Its stated vision is a world in which every person is free from the debilitating effects of war, political oppression, and poverty, and where each individual has the right to life-sustaining health care. Many of the founding members of Medicine for Peace had their roots in the civil rights movement. Dr. Michael Viola and Dr. Lew Marshall participated in the Howard University Mississippi Project, and founding member Chris Hansen examined a child at the Mound Bayou Health Clinic in Mississippi. This civil rights background shaped MFP's mission of combining medical service with advocacy. Over more than twenty-five years of operation, MFP has developed sustainable programs, encouraged women's rights through women's health programs, and borne witness to human rights violations.

Medicine for Peace (MFP) is a non-profit, tax-exempt (501 c 3) medical relief and humanitarian organization founded in 1991. Its establishment was a direct response to the health crisis of Iraqi children following the Gulf War. Following the war in Iraq, MFP performed child nutrition assessments, established clinics, and delivered medical care. Many of the founding members of Medicine for Peace had their roots in the civil rights movement. Dr. Michael Viola and Dr. Lew Marshall participated in the Howard University Mississippi Project. Founding member Chris Hansen examined a child at the Mound Bayou Health Clinic in Mississippi, and Kathleen Crane and two colleagues from Howard University worked at the Head Start Program in Marks, Mississippi. This background in civil rights and community health shaped the organization's dual focus on medical service and advocacy. Over the past twenty-five years, MFP has achieved its mission by developing sustainable medical and mental health programs in war zones and underserved communities worldwide, driven by skilled volunteers and trained local health professionals. It has encouraged women's rights through women's health programs that prevent disease and promote a healthy lifestyle, and built alliances with social service partners to rehabilitate torture and trauma victims seeking asylum in the United States. It also bears witness to human rights violations and advocates for social justice and access to medical care for victims of armed conflicts, political oppression, and state-sponsored torture. MFP has cared for women and children following the wars in Iraq and Bosnia, and after natural disasters in Haiti. Its comprehensive Women's and Maternal Health Program has delivered health care to more than 12,000 Haitian women. It initiated mental health programs for traumatized children in Bosnia and educates children from impoverished families in Haiti and the United States. The MFP Clinic provides forensic examinations, as well as medical and psychiatric referrals to victims of torture. The organization continues to uncover and publicize human rights violations and advocate for social justice for oppressed peoples.

• 1991

  Medicine for Peace founded as a non-profit, tax-exempt (501 c 3) medical relief and humanitarian organization in direct response to the health crisis of Iraqi children following the Gulf War.

• Following the war in Iraq, MFP performed child nutrition assessments, established clinics, and delivered medical care.

• MFP cared for women and children following the wars in Iraq and Bosnia.

• MFP initiated mental health programs for traumatized children in Bosnia.

• MFP's comprehensive Women's and Maternal Health Program delivered health care to more than 12,000 Haitian women.

• MFP cared for women and children after natural disasters in Haiti.

A volunteer-driven, non-profit medical relief and advocacy organization combining direct health care in war zones and underserved communities with human rights advocacy.

• Women's and Maternal Health Program

  Comprehensive program that has delivered health care to more than 12,000 Haitian women.

• Mental health programs for traumatized children

  Initiated in Bosnia for children traumatized by war.

• MFP Clinic

  Provides forensic examinations, as well as medical and psychiatric referrals to victims of torture.

• Children's education programs

  Educates children from impoverished families in Haiti and the United States.

• Child nutrition assessments and clinics in Iraq

  Performed following the war in Iraq.

1. 1Medicine for Peace – Assisting Victims of War & Povertymedicineforpeace.org
2. 2About MFP – Medicine for Peacemedicineforpeace.org
3. 3Medicine for Peacewikidata.org