OVER the last half century, millions of patients all over the world have received medical assistance from Taiwan. Regardless of distance and nationality, Taiwan has been leading, teaching, caring and unceasingly living by the mantra “Leave No One Behind”. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Taiwan has invested more than US$6 billion (RM25.85 billion) since 1996 in medical and humanitarian aid campaigns benefiting millions of people in more than 80 countries.
These include more than 50 programmes aimed at combating diseases such as Ebola, dengue, malaria and Zika in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the South Pacific.
The September 2015 United Nations Summit, in adopting the post-2015 development agenda, addressed the need to expand the Millennium Development Goals by delineating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In line with the international effort to achieve the SDGs and ensure that people of all ages, especially infants and children, have access to medical services, Taiwan’s medical teams have seen service in nations, particularly in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the South Pacific.
Acting both in residence and as mobile medical teams, these professionals have provided clinical care, sanitation education, and training in midwifery and medical management. They have also worked on projects to improve the health of pregnant women and infants.
As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is committed to taking part in the World Health Assembly and other World Health Organisation programmes, mechanisms and meetings to achieve the goals set under the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, bolster global health and promote the wellbeing of people of all ages.
In Burkina Faso, for example, Taiwan’s medical personnel treat about 14,000 patients each year. And, since 2006, 100 mobile medical teams have been despatched to more than 20 countries in Africa, Central and South America, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, benefiting some 150,000 people.
Private charitable groups from Taiwan also run free clinics all over the world.
Please visit leavenoonebehind.com.tw for more details on Taiwan’s contributions to global health over the decades.
LIU BANG-CHUAN, Senior adviser, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.