My name is Hakima, and I previously worked as a deputy project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for three years in Mombasa, Kenya, and am currently the Humanitarian Affairs Manager in Kenya.

In Mombasa, our work for adolescents and young people exemplifies MSF’s focus on delivering community-centered care. Our strategy consists of a peer-centered approach. Individuals from the same social groups and with shared experiences are trained to provide support, education, and health care services to their peers. This method is particularly effective in reaching marginalized and high-risk communities and plays a key role in combating prejudice, particularly among health care staff.

We’re in constant dialogue with the people who use our services as we provide both health care and social support, while adapting our work to meet their needs. 

Learn more about MSF's patient-first and community-based care, made possible by supporters like you.
 

Far too many of the patients we work with have been excluded from mainstream health care and face discrimination when seeking treatment. We see this every day, especially among vulnerable adolescents and young people, sex workers, intravenous drug users, LGBTQI+ people, and individuals living on the streets. That's why we have put communities at the heart of MSF's Mombasa project, tailoring our care based on a patient’s individual needs.

This is the work you make possible. With the help of supporters like you, we are able to reach vulnerable communities who otherwise may not have direct access to care. See your impact on patients in Kenya and around the world.

Thank you for making my work possible.

Hakima Masud
MSF Humanitarian Affairs Manager, Kenya
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières