A virtual workshop on eliminating hepatitis C was staged under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework June 17 in Taipei City, spotlighting the government’s commitment to strengthening health security in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Welfare, American Institute in Taiwan, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association and Australia Office in Taipei, the daylong event brought together more than 100 officials and experts from 39 countries.
High-profile participants included MOFA Deputy Minister Harry Ho-jen Tseng, MOHW Minister Chen Shih-chung, former Vice President Chen Chien-jen and Benjamin Cowie, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis in Australia.
Tseng said during his opening address that the GCTF is an ideal platform for working with like-minded countries in strengthening medical care systems and sharing Taiwan’s know-how with the world. A number of workshops have been successfully staged with partners on important issues such as infectious disease screening, management of chronic conditions and COVID-19 vaccine rollout, he added.
Disease knows no borders, Tseng said, adding that Taiwan is acutely aware of the importance of cooperating closely with other members of the international community in tackling global public health challenges.
In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “#Taiwan, the #US, #Japan & #Australia held a #GCTF on Efforts & Development on Eliminating #Hepatitis C in the run-up to #WorldHepatitisDay. The event involved 100+ participants from 39 countries & showed #TaiwanCanHelp realize #HealthForAll!”
The workshop is the ninth of its kind held under the GCTF since the framework’s launch in June 2015. Other topics addressed to date include education, environmental protection, humanitarian assistance, public health and women’s empowerment. (DL-E)
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