Taiwan’s pledge of US$1 million to the World Health Organization to help tackle the recent Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo underscores the nation’s commitment to supporting global disease prevention, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 30.
This donation will help the WHO reach its goal of raising US$26 million for Ebola response in the West African country within three months, the MOFA said. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is ready and willing to contribute funding, medical expertise and technology to enhance health security around the world, the ministry added.
The donation was announced May 26 by President Tsai Ing-wen when she welcomed back Taiwan’s delegation to the 71st World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO. The group held a record 60 meetings and five technical forums on the sidelines of the WHA in Geneva, promoting substantive exchanges between officials, medical experts and scholars from home and abroad.
According to the MOFA, the donation demonstrates Taiwan’s resolve to expand its pragmatic, professional and substantive contributions to global health care development.
As a major cargo and passenger transit hub in Asia, the nation understands the risks posed by cross-border transmission of communicable diseases. Citing the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, 15 years ago, the ministry said that Taiwan received financial and technical assistance from the U.S. and other countries to fight the illness.
Today, Taiwan gives back by sharing its medical expertise and supporting disease control initiatives, the MOFA said. Related efforts include previous donations of US$1 million to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation and 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment to U.S. Agency for International Development to help tackle the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the ministry added.
Disease knows no borders and Taiwan will continue to demonstrate goodwill and determination in advancing global health security, according to the MOFA. (KWS-E)
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