On Tuesday, November 2nd, the Republic of China (Taiwan) donated a special fund to the Ministry of Health to purchase additional equipment and supplies to augment the capacity of the health sector, including the Field Hospitals in St. Kitts and Nevis and to strengthen the country’s COVID-19 response capability, demonstrating Taiwan’s firm commitment to the Federation.
Resident Ambassador Michael Chau-Horng Lin of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Kitts and Nevis presented the cheque to Hon. Akilah Byron-Nisbett, Minister of Health. The cheque is a significant donation for the procurement of supplies to equip the field hospitals and also represents the balance of funds after the acquisition of vaccines earlier this year and 2 refrigerators for the storage of the Pfizer vaccine.
Ambassador Lin pointed out during the handover meeting that the exceptional pandemic control of St. Kitts and Nevis under the leadership of Hon. Minister and Prime Minister Harris had provided a strong base for a growing tourist wave, and Taiwan, as a reliable ally and partner of St. Kitts and Nevis, was proud of its success. Now that the strengthening of the surge capacity of the field hospitals had become a priority, the Government of Taiwan was glad to make this timely contribution to better equip the field hospitals redirecting the resources originally allotted to procure the vaccine.
Hon. Minister Byron-Nisbett extended her deep thankfulness to the Government and the people of Taiwan for the support rendered to the Federation, especially in healthcare. The fund as well as the equipment donated by the Government of Taiwan, including the 20 oxygen concentrators, were essential to the pandemic control and would be used in the hospitals to help persons with respiratory problems. St. Kitts and Nevis, as a strong ally of the Republic of China (Taiwan), appreciated the partnership and cooperation with Taiwan and will continue to work with and support Taiwan.
The donation is the latest sign of fraternity between the Taiwanese Government and St Kitts and Nevis since the outbreak of the pandemic around the globe at the beginning of the year 2020. Starting with COVID-19 preparedness guidance knowledge, hospital management and medical staff preparedness, the strong and close bilateral cooperation against the virus was later extended to providing essential medical materials and equipment, including hundreds of thousands of masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), antigen test kits, 4 ventilators, and 20 oxygen concentrators, etc.
Ambassador Lin emphasized the willingness of the Government of Taiwan to continue to deepen the close ties with the Federation and help pursue the health and safety agenda of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.
