MOFA Department of North American Affairs Director-General Douglas Yu-tien Hsu (first left) and Taiwan CDC Director-General Chou Jih-haw are all ears as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers his opening remarks during the virtual. (MOFA)

Taiwan participated in the “Strengthening Africa’s Resilience and Response to Ebola Virus” virtual March 26, pledging US$250,000 to help combat the disease while promoting global health.

Hosted by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, West African Health Organization, the U.S. and the World Health Organization’s African Regional Agency, the virtual was held in response to recent outbreaks of Ebola in western and central Africa. Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. head Hsiao Bi-khim, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of North American Affairs Director-General Douglas Yu-tien Hsu and Taiwan Centers for Disease Control Director-General Chou Jih-haw took part via videoconference alongside officials from Africa and the European Union, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Hsiao said during her address that Taiwan is willing and able to contribute to global health initiatives. The government will keep working alongside African states, the U.S. and other like-minded countries to help those impacted by Ebola.

According to the MOFA, Taiwan remains committed to substantial participation in the global health system in the spirit of pragmatism, professionalism and a willingness to abide by international health standards. Cooperation between nations has proven to be the only way to successfully tackle epidemics, and the country has much to offer with its expertise in disease prevention, the minstry added.

It is the latest in a series of health-related exchanges since Taiwan and the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding on health cooperation Aug. 10, 2020. The two sides agreed to expand collaboration spanning areas such as global health security, investigation and control of infectious disease, research, prevention and treatment of chronic disease, and the development of drugs and vaccines. (DL-E)