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Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development
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- Partnerships between BOTH THE public and THE private sector, A KEY ISSUE FOR DEVELOPMENT
- We must all mobilise - Freddy Karup Pedersen
- Partnerships between BOTH THE public and THE private sector, A KEY ISSUE FOR DEVELOPMENT
We must all mobilise - Freddy Karup Pedersen
The Red Cross is fortunate in that it can use the services of a network of 100 million volunteers throughout the world. Protection of civilians is the task of the Committee, and the Federation acts in emergencies. It puts emphasis on the large health problems presently identified: AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, infant diseases. To carry out this mission we rely on a network of committed professionals and active partnerships.
What problems will we encounter in the future? We shall have to cope with societies unable to carry out the tasks at the very bottom of the ladder. There is therefore a need to help these populations. For that, people need to be trained for field work. In southern Africa, we are losing 25% of our volunteers because of the AIDS epidemic.
However, volunteer health workers can also help in other battles, particular on the subject of retroviruses. Science is also very helpful. For instance, in anti-whooping cough vaccines, scientific progress has been remarkable.
All those concerned must contribute. This applies most particularly to political decision makers who should be more involved as regards public health and environment issues.
It is true that sometimes there is some competition between actors or that there is some scepticism. However, since there is no other way of dealing with the major problems that confront us all, everyone must make a contribution.