Today is “MSF Day 2009”. With the slogan of “Let’s Donate a Day’s Income and Volunteer for MSF”, we invite the public to join “MSF Day 2009” and donate a day’s income to support the worldwide medical relief work of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). With the kind support from the public and corporations, MSF Hong Kong has raised almost HK$ 3 million from this campaign.

The Campaign Finale of “MSF Day 2009” is held at Olympian City today. Mr Dick VAN DER TAK, Executive Director of MSF Hong Kong, says that MSF sends out more than 2,000 field workers yearly to join the worldwide relief work. Providing medical aid on the frontline is difficult, but it is possible to be effective and to have a meaningful impact on peoples’ lives. In 2008 MSF teams provided almost 9 million consultations, vaccinated 2.8 million children and performed almost 50,000 surgical interventions. He adds that though it is not possible for everybody to join MSF on the frontline, Hong Kong public can join MSF’s efforts to provide medical assistance by joining MSF Day Campaign and donating one day’s income.

Mr Jan LAMB and Mr Eric KOT of Softhard, the “MSF Day 2009 Honourable Campaign Leaders”, make use of their talents to improvise the stories of a patient and a field volunteer in the conflict area of Sri Lanka. Apart from raising awareness of the plight of population fleeing the violence, it aims to let the public experience the feeling of partnering at the frontline with the field workers. Northern Sri Lanka had been a battleground between the Sri Lankan Army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for years and the fighting intensified massively last December. Though the fighting was over in more than a month ago, about 269,000 people have fled the violence and now living in camps in Vavuniya District where the living condition is dire. MSF is working in three hospitals to provide daily medical service. An inflatable hospital is also set up to provide 24 hours surgical and medical assistance.

In the ceremony, Softhard join hands with other guests to put up the umbrellas of “MSF Day”, signifying the collective support for MSF Day together with the Hong Kong public. The “I Support MSF Day Snapshot” activity is also held at the ceremony venue. The public are invited to make use of the little props provided to model the “Most Supportive Look” to show their support for the campaign. Their photos are uploaded at real time on the MSF Day Facebook Page. For the details, please visit www.msf.org.hk/fb/.

Since the launch of “MSF Day 2009” in April, 144 companies and organisations from private sectors, together with 23 government departments and public organisations and individual donors, have shown their great support. New World Group and the Inland Revenue Department raise the highest amount of fund among all the participating corporates and government departments respectively. Participants wear the “MSF Day Badge” together and experience the volunteering spirit of MSF today.

Special thanks to the Key Sponsor New World Department Store China Limited; Medical Action Partners Ampco Industries Limited and LeSportsac - Carsac Limited; Supporting Companies includes AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited, Black Peony (HK) Limited, Blue Cross (Asia Pacific) Insurance Limited, Decca Holdings Limited, Oriental Watch Holdings Limited, Tai Shing Group (Holdings) Company Limited, and Media Partner Commercial Radio.

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