History

Since 1997, each year, Médicos del Mundo Spain has organized the Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award dedicated to the memory of Flors Sirera, Luis Valtueña, Manuel Madrazo, and Mercedes Navarro, four members of the association who were killed in Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina while engaged in humanitarian work.

In memorian

Luis Valtueña Gallego

Flors Sirera Fortuny

Manuel Madrazo Osuna

Mercedes Navarro Rodríguez

With this award, our aim is to provide continuity to the work of all of those who, like them, contributing to building a fairer world. Their commitment and solidarity are values that constitute the essence of this competition.

Médicos del Mundo

31 years fighting against all diseases, including injustice

Médicos del Mundo (Doctors of the World) is an NGO, independent of any political or religious affiliation, that promotes human development by defending every person’s fundamental right to health and a dignified life. The organization is made up of volunteers and staff who join their efforts to achieve universal, fair access to health and denounce violations of this right.

In 2019, Médicos del Mundo España worked in 21 countries or territories in Africa, America, Asia and Europe through 109 projects, 67 of which involved development cooperation and 43 of which involved humanitarian aid (emergency relief), directly benefitting nearly three million people. We also carried out 94 projects in Spain, providing care to nearly a further 20,000 people.

Lines of action

International Cooperation

The development cooperation projects are geared to addressing major health issues in the communities involved and provide promotion, treatment and rehabilitation services to solve them. Taking a long-term approach, the programs are integrated into the structures of the Ministries of Health in the countries where we work facing tremendous challenges, such as the lack and/or constant turnover of health personnel, particularly acute in Africa.

Humanitarian Aid

Médicos del Mundo facilitates aid to the most vulnerable population in areas affected by natural disasters or conflicts. Our intervention aims to assure health care and rebuild damaged health infrastructure. We not only intervene in emergencies, but also work to prepare disaster response and implement early warning systems.

Social inclusion

Also in developed countries like our own, there are groups who are excluded. It is to them, to those who are drug users, live in prostitution, are homeless and/or immigrants without access to the health system that we gear our attention which aims to impact the causes that lead to these violations of rights. We also address the issue of female genital mutilation to prevent its physical, psychological, social and legal implications through prevention and awareness raising. These projects are carried out through Médicos del Mundo’s structure in 14 of Spain’s 17 autonomous Regions.

Mobilization

The organization also aims at social change. To bring this about, it aims to engage society in situations of inequality and violations of the right to health. We also try to Foster critical thought to build a civil society which, in the Global North and South alike, is committed to solidarity and whose demands are taken into account when political, economic and social decisions are taken. In addition, we perform advocacy work with persons in influential positions and those making political decisions so that measures are taken and resources allocated to protect the right to health.

Médicos del Mundo around the world

In addition to Spain, Médicos del Mundo is present in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. All delegations share the same vision, both in terms of their conception of helping the most disadvantaged and in their goal to instill the idea of global solidarity in all countries.