2007 year Press Release
TaiwanIHA held its year-end press conference at 3:30pm, February 6, in the Conference Hall of TaiwanIHA (4F, No. 7, Section 1, Roosevelt Road). The unit will share its achievements with the public.TaiwanIHA Holds Year-end Conference
Since TaiwanIHA was established in February 2006, it has made great achievements with the support of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and private humanitarian medical care institutions. It has made the following contributions:
1.Participation in major international disaster relief activities
A. On February 17, 2006, a large mudslide occurred in the Philippines. TaiwanIHA delivered emergency kits to the disaster area the next day, making it the first foreign aid to arrive.
B. In May 2006, a severe earthquake struck central Java, Indonesia. TaiwanIHA dispatched three emergency medical teams and sent a large amount of medical equipment to aid in treating the physical and mental injuries of the victims.
C. Starting in October 2006, east African countries suffered several months of serious floods. Subsequently, Rift Valley Fever has been detected in east Kenya. TaiwanIHA and the Ministry of Health and Welfare sent relief supplies to the area to help combat the disease..
2.Assistance with preventing avian flu and new infectious diseases
A. During the planning stages of TaiwanIHA in December 2005, an advisory group traveled to Sao Tome and Principe to help control cholera.
B. In March 2006, TaiwanIHA cooperated with the International Center for Migration and Health (ICMH) to produce a pamphlet in 12 languages on the prevention of avian flu. It is also available on the ICMH and TaiwanIHA websites. This information has contributed significantly to preventing avian flu worldwide.
C. In early April 2006 avian flu was detected in Burkina Faso. In response, a team of experts with protective equipment was promptly sent to provide guidance and assist with preventing the spread of the disease.
D. At the invitation of the Chadian government, TaiwanIHA dispatched experts and equipment in June 2006 to assist in avian flu prevention efforts in Chad.
3.Provision of medical training courses for developing countries
A. Twenty-two senior nurses from the Asia Pacific region participated in the 2006 Nursing Leaders’ Training Program held in August that year.
B. A total of 27 foreign and 25 local elites in traditional medicine participated in the 2006 CAM/TM Professional Training Program last September. This is in line with the WHO’s call for countries to implement a resolution to develop strategies to promote traditional medicine.
4.Co-organization of the Global Medical Instruments Support & Services (GMISS) program
The goal of this program is to collect old but useable medical equipment from domestic medical centers and hospitals. This equipment is sent to countries lacking medical resources so as to improve their healthcare and medical services. To date, over 300 pieces of valuable medical equipment have been collected and sent to our allies.
5.Holding and sponsoring of international medical and health conferences
A. The International Meeting on Avian Flu and Global Health Security was held in March 2006. The question of how to integrate Taiwan into the global health security system, thereby plugging the gap caused by Taiwan’s exclusion, was discussed.
B. Another team attended the 2006 Dubai International Health Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (DIHAD) in April last year to make connections with international humanitarian aid institutions and raise TaiwanIHA’s profile in the international community.
C. Also in April 2006, TaiwanIHA sponsored the Taiwan Hospital Association to organize the 2006 International Hospital Federation Asian Pacific Regional Conference (IHFAPRC 2006). Experts in medical care administration, management strategy and public health from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and United States were invited to attend the conference.
D. With sponsorship from TaiwanIHA, the Taiwan Society of Internal Medicine held the 28th World Congress of Internal Medicine in November 2006.
E. The Global Forum for Health Leaders was held in December 2006. Government representatives, INGO representatives and experts from home and abroad were invited to discuss issues related to the sustainable development of global health..
6.Promotion of Taiwan’s achievements in medical aid overseas
A. TaiwanIHA published Passion and Care—A Pictorial Collection of Taiwan International Humanitarian Medical and Health Relief Efforts 2000-2006 in Chinese, English, Spanish and French. It also held a press conference for the book’s release in Taiwan. All of Taiwan’s diplomatic missions distributed courtesy copies to relevant local organizations for their reference. The photo exhibition, The Story of Taiwan’s Global Humanitarian Aid 2000-2006, and other events were likewise held in major cities around the world.
B. TaiwanIHA continues to publish articles in domestic and international newspapers and magazines, such as in Diva International, a Geneva-based magazine for the international community, to introduce TaiwanIHA and its achievements in overseas medical aid.
TaiwanIHA will continue to closely cooperate with medical and rescue organizations at home and abroad so as to more fully integrate healthcare resources, and promote international healthcare and humanitarian cooperation. This will let the world see for itself Taiwan’s passion and proactive steps to give back to the international community. TaiwanIHA looks forward to becoming an important partner to all medical organizations in the world. Together, we can ensure the health rights and bolster the welfare of the people not just in Taiwan, but also those in the rest of the world.