As COVID-19 has wreaked havoc around the world, Taiwan is trying to share its experience in combating this infectious disease and promoting its bid to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO for Taiwan Association in Boston, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO-Boston), the Harvard GSAS Taiwan Student Association, and other Taiwanese organizations in New England, co-hosted a panel discussion “Taiwan’s Quick Response to COVID-19” at Harvard Medical School at noon on March 5. The panelists included medical professors, experts on public health from Taiwan and the United States, as well as some Taiwanese experts who are currently frontline medical staff. Even though these dedicated medical professionals are currently taking care of patients during the daytime they were still willing to join the video-conference at midnight Taiwan time sharing their hands-on experience combating coronavirus with their American counterparts. Everyone very much appreciated their participation.
Congressman Joe Kennedy (D-MA), a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, who is in support of Taiwan’s bid for the World Health Organization (WHO), assigned a representative to attend the conference on his behalf. State Representative Steve Howitt (R-MA) also showed his support for Taiwan’s application for observer status in the WHA by video, even though he couldn’t participate in the meeting in person. Director-General Douglas Y. T. Hsu elaborated on the history of Taiwan’s fight for membership in the WHO over the last 20 years. He especially noted that Taiwan’s transformation from the recipient of foreign aid to one of donor to developing countries through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), Taiwan is an active contributor to the world. Director-General Hsu called for the WHO to ignore political factors and include Taiwan in the global public health system.
Around more than 80 people attended the panel discussion, including medical scholars and experts from Taiwan and the U.S., including Drs. Chang-Chuan Chan, Dean of the School of Public Health of National Taiwan University; Hsien-Ho Lin, Professor of National Taiwan University, Dr. Yuh-Jyh Jong, President of Kaohsiung Medical University; Ming-Feng Hou, Superintendent of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital; Deng-Chyang Wu, Vice Superintendent of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital; Chung-Yo Lin, Director of Infection Control Center of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital; Shao-Yi Cheng, Health Center Director of National Taiwan University; and Jennifer Christian, President of Webility Corporation.
