By Tom Chou, Representative, Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands.
An outbreak of a highly contagious disease, such as MERS, Ebola or Zika, if not being dealt with promptly, can easily spread over the world. Therefore, no country should be left behind the security net of global health.
Taiwan has provided over US$ 6 billion in international and humanitarian aid efforts since 1996. It has benefited millions of people directly or indirectly in more than 80 countries.
Since 2009, Taiwan has been invited by the WHO to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. With this new capacity, Taiwan has contributed further to the world community by sharing its valuable medical experience and advanced health technology.
In the meantime, it has also benefited greatly in receiving timely information from the WHO that is critical in fighting new outbreaks of serious epidemics in other parts of the world.
Moreover, Taiwan administers the Taipei Flight Information Region, which sees over 60 million incoming and outgoing passengers, including Dutch visitors, a year. Taiwan’s participation to the WHA makes the world a safer place for all.
However, Taiwan has not yet received invitation to attend the WHA which will be held in late May of this year. The support of the international community to its continuing participation in the WHA is very important for the wellbeing of Taiwan and the world.
