Quebec finally accepts offer of former president of Doctors Without Borders to help

#Quebec; #longTermCareHomes; #DoctorsWithoutBorders; #Covid19Pandemic

Montreal, Apr 18 (Canadian-Media): The offer, to work in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec's long-term care facilities, by Dr. Joanne Liu,  former president of Doctors Without Borders, and pediatric emergency specialist at Montreal's Sainte-Justine Hospital, was initially rejected by the Quebec government, but finally got approved, media reports said.

Dr. Joanne Liu. Image credit: Facebook page

When Quebec's Health Minister Danielle McCann learnt of the province's refusal of the offer, said her team will make sure to call Liu to help quickly.

The Quebec government has been criticized for not acting swiftly enough when the virus began to spread in the province's seniors' and long-term care homes. 

​Earlier this week, when medical specialists were asked by Legault to help nurses and orderlies in the homes, the specialists said they had been offering to help for weeks but hadn't received a response, nor instructions on where they were needed.

A website was set up by the the government for people with health care experience to volunteer to help in the province's fight against the pandemic. 

Legault said about 4,000 people were hired out of the 50,000 or so who applied.