The United States’ decision to cut funding for its global humanitarian programmes created a “domino effect” that affected other organisations, but Hong Kong can support international aid through research and donations, a key member of a major NGO has said.
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Dr Maria Guevara, international medical secretary of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), called for more collaborations between the city’s universities and global partners in researching areas such as climate change and emerging infectious diseases.
In an interview with the Post when she visited Hong Kong last month, Guevara said the city could support and help “ensure that people [in the global community] are also able to have some degree of good health systems and controls”, if it was aware of how connected the world is.
“Whether it’s human resources or financial resources, whether it’s expertise, research, innovation and technology resources – you’re accompanying us,” she said of the city.
“By securing [the global community’s] health, you’re also securing your health.”
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Guevara, a doctor trained in pulmonary and critical care medicine with over 20 years of experience in humanitarian work, described the current situation of international aid efforts as “challenging”.