Medical Team in a Crisis Zone winner's showcase

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This new award, dedicated to Karen Woo, acknowledges the vital importance of medical responses to a clear and present danger. It honours medical teams that have had an exceptional humanitarian impact in a conflict or where there has been a natural disaster.

Doctors For You, Bihar Flood Relief Work 2008-09, India

On 18 August 2008 the Kosi river in Bihar India burst its banks. The problems resulting from the devastating floods transforded Doctors for You from a non-governemntal organisation promting voluntary blood donations into a humanitarian aid organisation. Over 6 months the 110 strong team worked to mitigate the effects of the calamity and treated 130,000 patients in 300 mobile health clinics at various relief camps. The judges were particularly impressed by the construction of the Biratpur Health Centre which has provided free treatment to more than 54,000 patients and delivered more than 164 babies since it was opened. Running of the centre has now successfully been handed over to the local community.

Dr Vivek Chabra said:
" The boost in membership and community support base following shortlisting in the BMJ Group Awards is catalysing our motivation and scope of work profile."