COVID-19 cases surpassed 700,000 globally in just three months since the virus first emerged.
Dean, Professor Teo Yik Ying called for effective responses at both national and international levels in face of this unprecedented pandemic. He explained that low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were unable to adequately manage the outbreak due to the lack of required technology, training and resources.
Prof Teo urged leaders of LMICs to recognise the challenges in their healthcare systems and reach out for international support as a coordinated global effort is required to respond to such crisis.
“Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so the failure of a single country to contain COVID-19 heightens the global risk.
Countries with stronger health systems must now urgently assist their weaker counterparts, which in turn should readily accept any aid that helps them tackle this deadly global threat.”
Read the full commentary here:
- The COVID-19 Weakest Links, Project Syndicate, 27 March 2020
- COVID-19 weakest links, The Asean Post, 28 March 2020