We need to improve public health capacity in less developed countries and global health messaging. Guano farmers, for example, earn less than $1 per bucket of bat droppings that they collect. Entering dark caves is difficult work. If the farmers were given support for more sustainable, safer work, it would be good for them and everyone else because it would reduce risk and exposure to viruses that bats carry.

There is a strong imperative for us to invest much more in the global response both to the current pandemic and to the prevention of further pandemics. Does the Minister agree we need to put many more resources into a global response to Covid-19 and to prevent future pandemics?

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