The Canadian branch of a global humanitarian organization is headed by a woman with strong Newfoundland connections.

Dr. Wendy Lai, who grew up and went to school in St. John’s, is the President of Doctors Without Borders Canada’s Board of Directors. The organization, one of the largest of its kind, is known globally for stepping in when global conflict, disasters, and outbreaks impact populations.

Dr. Lai says trained physicians travel the world over offering help where it’s needed most – often in challenging and dangerous circumstances.

Ebola continues to be a big issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is seeing the biggest outbreak since the outbreak in West Africa years ago. The outbreak is complicated by ongoing conflict and a health system that’s struggling to meet the most basic health problems.

That includes a measles outbreak in the same area according to Dr. Lai.

Even though measles is a vaccine preventable disease, they’re still dealing with thousands of cases in addition to the ebola outbreak.

Fundraising efforts and public support are key says Dr. Lai in helping Doctors Without Borders perform important humanitarian work. Public funding allows them more independence and the ability to respond quickly to humanitarian disasters. More than 95 per cent of their funding comes from individual donors.

Doctors Without Borders conducts door-to-door canvassing as part of its fundraising efforts. You can also donate here.