The staunch support of diplomatic allies and like-minded countries for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA is appreciated and highlights the nation’s contributions to global medical development, according to the MOFA Jan. 29. (UDN)

The staunch support of Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies and like-minded countries for the nation’s participation in the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, is greatly appreciated and underscores Taiwan’s major contributions to international medical development, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan. 29.

Speaking at the 142nd session of the WHO Executive Board Jan. 22-27 in Geneva, representatives from ROC diplomatic allies Burkina Faso, El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Swaziland as well as like-minded nations Japan and the U.S. reiterated the importance of Taiwan’s engagement in global health and disease prevention networks.

Swaziland Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Simon M. Zwane reaffirmed Taiwan’s contributions to health security. “We would like for Taiwan to continue its professional, pragmatic and constructive participation in WHO mechanisms, conferences and activities,” he said.

Excluding Taiwan creates unnecessary and ill-advised delays in transmitting disease and other forms of crucial medical data, prevents the country from contributing its cutting-edge medical expertise and deprives the people of Taiwan of their fundamental right to health, Zwane said.

Garrett Grigsby, director of the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, called for Taiwan to receive an invitation to the 71st WHA scheduled for May 21-26, stating that facilitating the nation’s attendance was “simply the right thing to do. In this world of disease threats defying and crossing borders, debates on public health preparedness and response are by nature inclusive and universal,” he said.

Taiwan participated in the annual WHA as an observer from 2009 to 2016 following 38 years of exclusion. Its involvement is widely recognized as helping strengthen global disease prevention efforts.

The MOFA urged the WHA to recognize Taiwan’s medical and health expertise and experience, as well as uphold the universal right to health. Only the democratically elected government can represent the 23 million people of Taiwan, the ministry said, adding that it will continue to work with the Ministry of Health and Welfare as well as related organizations to promote Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the assembly. (KWS-E)