Yeh Ching-chuan Minister, Department of Health, Republic of China
(Taiwan)
Public health and medical experts in Taiwan have long dreamt
of the day that Taiwan returns to the World Health Organization (WHO) to contribute directly and most effectively to the
international health effort. Now this dream has been realized, as Taiwan is to take part in the World Health Assembly as an
observer under the name "Chinese Taipei," striving alongside each nation in that world body to promote the health of people
around the world.
Pandemics Respect No
Borders
With continuing growth in global trade, tourism and business
travel, national borders appear increasingly irrelevant in dealing with public health threats, as all nations must pull
together for the common good. Recent efforts to keep influenza viruses under control and to assure food safety offer concrete
examples. Cases of avian influenza, or "bird flu," afflicting humans appeared in countries neighboring Taiwan in November
2005. Transnational movements of migratory birds during the migration season each year pose a threat of transmitting the
highly pathogenic avian flu virus beyond its original sources, as research indicates that migratory birds are generally
carriers of the virus. Each year, nearly 1.25 million birds comprising 351 migratory species fly southward from the Chinese
mainland, Japan and Korea to Taiwan, before continuing onward to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. As Taiwan
is a location that migratory birds must transit, the risk of an avian influenza outbreak is
considerable.
Research by this Department indicates that, should an
outbreak of avian flu transmissible between human beings occur, up to 5.3 million people could become infected, with
fatalities of as many as 14,000 people. Therefore, every year when the migratory season arrives, public health agencies in
Taiwan go on alert to prevent the appearance of the disease on the island. Fortunately, up to the present, Taiwan has not yet
experienced an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, nor have any human cases of the disease appeared
here. Effective prevention of avian influenza requires that various countries work together closely and communicate to monitor
the epidemic situation and spread of cases. Clearly, sharing information between countries about the state of virus transmission and international technical assistance is hugely important forglobal pandemic prevention.
Similarly, there is an urgent need for every country to cooperate and exchange information to prevent the spread of this year's new H1N1 virus. As a member of the international community, Taiwan will closely participate in the international pandemic prevention effort. It will exchange information with each country, jointly strive to prevent the transmission and spread of the disease, actively work to develop and manufacture a vaccine and stockpile pertinent medical treatment materials to deal with any potential outbreak. When necessary, Taiwan will also extend a helping hand to assist other countries with disease prevention, providing the necessary medical treatment resources and working in step with the world to resist incursion of the influenza virus.
The other example involves global food safety, which is an increasingly serious problem. Rapid means of transportation and advanced preservation techniques are allowing various kinds of foodstuffs to transcend limitations of distance and be consumed all around the world. Finished food products now circulate widely, and their ingredients can come from any part of the world. As the complexity of sourcing ingredients grows, food safety is more and more difficult to manage and control. Only swift circulation of accurate information and close cross-border cooperation in monitoring and controlling such foodstuffs can allow each country to stay abreast of the safety situation for each kind of food, and at the moment that a threat is uncovered, trace the source and destination of contaminated foods. Modern food safety management differs from traditional approaches - prevention requires concerted cooperation between countries.
Like other countries, Taiwan is confronted with these major public health issues. Facing the challenges of a globalized world, Taiwan will actively participate in WHO activities. Joining the international health system of that world body will assure the health and safety of Taiwan's 23 million people.
Contributions Taiwan can make to global health
In the midst of rapid economic growth, Taiwan has set up an outstanding health system. The Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Taiwan second worldwide in terms of health system performance, underscoring the island's distinctive health accomplishments. From the 20th century to the present, Taiwan has amassed many dazzling health accomplishments, such as eradicating smallpox, cholera, malaria and polio; comprehensively undertaking hepatitis B inoculations; and launching a universal national health insurance program. The return of Taiwan to the international mainstream, as we now have the opportunity to take part in the World Health Assembly as an observer, will allow us to share our experience with other countries and contribute to the health of everyone in the world.
Taiwan has demonstrated malaria-fighting results in Sao Tome and Principe and has set up Taiwan Health Centers, respectively, in the Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands to provide medical treatment and public health services. Taiwan is more than willing to help other countries solve various medical and health profession problems, such as medical network planning, infectious disease prevention and treatment, health insurance, medical research, emergency relief and aid, as well as tobacco hazard prevention. We will do everything in our power to contribute to the international community and help upgrade the health of people around the world.
Conclusion
The international community has positively affirmed this pragmatic and flexible attitude with Taiwan becoming an observer in the World Health Assembly this year. Taiwan's participation in the WHO will be a great step forward for global health-related human rights and will bridge the last gap in the international health security network. We hope to achieve greater participation via an appropriate method in future WHO-related events, mechanisms and meetings. We ardently look forward to Taiwan's participation, which will allow us to contribute substantively to the health of people around the world.
Taiwan is ready to share its public health accomplishments and experience with the world, and pledges that, in the future, it will actively comply with each WHO policy, take part in that organization's events and do its utmost to contribute. |
