BY HILMAR J. ARÉVALO R.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, right, and Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan promote Taiwan’s contributions to the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Through initiatives in medicine and health care, TaiwanICDF strengthens cooperation with allied countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing global health challenges.

A priority for Taiwan’s international assistance is public health, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) uses medical diplomacy as a strategic tool to strengthen international relations. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) emphasized the government’s determination to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Health Assembly (WHA), highlighting growing international support from allied countries, organizations and friendly nations who endorse Taiwan’s participation as an observer. The minister also pointed out the country’s achievements in the health sector, such as its internationally recognized health care system and valuable contributions to global disease defense during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary General Huang Yu-lin, right, of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) visits a hospital in Guatemala where a multiphase maternalneonatal health project benefit mothers and newborns. (International Cooperation and Development Fund)

Taipei City-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), sponsored by the MOFA, is a key player in implementing public health and welfare initiatives. The organization is responsible for a series of collaborative projects in the health field to promote socioeconomic development, optimize human resources and strengthen relations with allies and developing countries.

TaiwanICDF’s public health and medical programs are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all demographics, and SDG 17, aimed at enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development. “These programs, which leverage Taiwan’s experience in developing public health, work in concert with local medical institutions to improve the health systems of partner countries,” said TaiwanICDF Secretary General Huang Yu-lin (黃玉霖).

The Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project in Paraguay helps the South American ally make significant progress in digitizing its public health program. (TaiwanICDF)

“All of our public health and medical projects are implemented in collaboration with regional hospitals and medical centers, which provide expertise and equipment,” Huang explained. These projects are tailored to the needs of each partner to ensure lasting health improvement. The training trainers method employed by TaiwanICDF ensures sustainability and effectiveness by thoroughly educating seed trainers, who then pass on knowledge to their peers throughout the country.

The organization is currently carrying out projects in key areas in Latin America and the Caribbean: maternal and infant health care in Guatemala, the prevention and control of chronic diseases in Belize and St. Lucia, the enhancement of the mental health treatment system in St. Kitts and Nevis, the development of health information systems in Paraguay, and the response to public health emergencies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Activities to improve cardiovascular health in Belize are a fun, festive component of TaiwanICDF’s Project for Strengthening Metabolic Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Systems. (TaiwanICDF)

These programs involve close cooperation with the health ministries of participating countries, as well as with hospitals in Taiwan. For example, TaiwanICDF is working with Belize’s Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) and Taipei Citybased Far Eastern Memorial Hospital (FEMH) on a project to strengthen systems to prevent and control chronic metabolic diseases. The Belize MOHW enables the implementation of the project, and FEMH makes recommendations for policy development and assists in the development of seed trainers, while TaiwanICDF deploys staff to Belize to implement the program alongside the MOHW. Huang explained that this collaboration facilitates rollout at the policy, institutional and community levels.

The provision of medical equipment is a crucial element in the Public Health Emergency Response System Improvement Project in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (TaiwanICDF)

By adopting a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the health systems of each partner nation, TaiwanICDF projects have produced significant results recognized by their respective governments. A notable example is the Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project in Paraguay, which created a customized system based on the level of local health development and the needs of the Paraguayan Ministry of Health and public health personnel. The project has yielded impressive results, with the developed health information system now covering 70 percent of Paraguay’s population and reducing patient waiting times from 2.5 hours to just half an hour.

Following the success of projects to combat chronic metabolic diseases in Belize and Eswatini, TaiwanICDF is running a similar project in St. Kitts and Nevis. (TaiwanICDF)

There is similarly remarkable progress toward SDG 3 to report in the Caribbean, where the improved health assessment achieved through the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Metabolic Chronic Diseases in St. Kitts and Nevis led to a 23 percentage point decrease in the mortality rate from noncommunicable diseases. A project to enhance the country’s mental health system in response to growing international attention to mental health and the needs expressed by the ally’s government has integrated psychological assessment tools into the chronic disease screening forms developed in previous TaiwanICDF projects.

Training and equipment donations from TaiwanICDF contribute to improved health outcomes for newborns in Guatemala. (TaiwanICDF)

In St. Lucia, under the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Metabolic Chronic Diseases, instructors and community members were trained in Taiwan and have since delivered workshops and courses back at home in the Caribbean ally. Health screenings and exercise and nutrition promotion events have been organized for thousands of people, and an app is being developed to optimize case management for these diseases in St. Lucia. The Public Health Emergency Response System Enhancement Project in St. Vincent and the Grenadines likewise seeks to strengthen domestic capacity to manage public health emergencies caused by natural disasters through training in medical response, infectious disease control and disaster preparedness, as well as the provision of medical equipment and organization of drills with medical and emergency personnel.

TaiwanICDF’s initiatives ensure the continuity of its projects despite frequent staff changes in partner hospitals. This includes workshops on best practices and the introduction of an award to recognize and encourage those who make significant contributions to public health and medical care, which also incentivizes long-term commitment and active participation by partners.

TaiwanICDF conducts an educational outreach activity as part of a capacity-building project for the prevention and control of chronic metabolic diseases in St. Lucia. (TaiwanICDF)

According to Huang, Taiwan will continue to actively collaborate with partner countries’ health ministries, identifying key stakeholders and ensuring the effective execution of projects. Such initiatives not only strengthen Taiwan’s diplomatic ties but also significantly contribute to the improvement of global health systems. Medical diplomacy is a key mechanism for driving international development and global cooperation.

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