Help Taiwan Fight SARS by Chen Shui-bian
看板NTU89thLIS作者BradPitt (Lightning Strike--I Lov)時間22年前 (2003/05/10 00:28)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)留言0則, 0人參與討論串1/2 (看更多)
Help Taiwan Fight SARS
By Chen Shui-bian
Friday, May 9, 2003; Page A35
The outbreak and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS,
has brought illness, death and economic peril to Asia and the rest of the
world. It has also drawn attention to Taiwan's exclusion from the World
Health Organization. If there was ever a time for my country to be allowed
to join the WHO, it is now.
As Taiwan's democratically elected president, my first and foremost
obligation is to the people of Taiwan. When SARS first appeared in Taiwan
in March, our health system responded quickly and effectively.
As a result, Taiwan initially achieved a record of zero mortality, zero
community transmission and zero transmission abroad of SARS. But despite
our efforts, another outbreak occurred in late April. We have taken strict
measures in response, and are working day and night to contain the disease.
Throughout this health crisis, my government has acted in the best
interest of our people and of foreign nationals living in and visiting Taiwan.
At no time has my administration suppressed information about the disease.
Our press has reported freely on SARS. More important, our officials know
that they are accountable to the people, both morally and at the ballot box.
Whatever problems arise for Taiwan, we will solve them according to the
highest standards of medicine, government accountability and human compassion.
I also have an obligation to the world. Taiwan is a nation of 23 million
people and a major trading partner for many countries. What happens in
Taiwan affects many millions more around the world. For that reason, Taiwan
immediately offered to work with the WHO in combating SARS. Unfortunately,
we were rebuffed. However, in response to the most recent rise in the number
of cases, and for the first time in decades, two experts from the WHO
arrived in Taiwan last week. I welcome this assistance and have directed my
government and called on my people to cooperate fully with them.
The WHO's decision to send these experts to Taiwan has great significance.
It demonstrates that Taiwan is indispensable to international public health.
But it also suggests that cooperation between the WHO and Taiwan should not
be left to ad hoc arrangements.
Despite my country's advanced health system, staffed by doctors and nurses
educated in highly respected institutions at home and abroad, and despite
a strong desire to participate in the WHO, Taiwan is denied membership or
even observer status in the organization. As a consequence, our epidemiologists
are still unable to gain prompt access to information, such as samples of
the virus, that could help our scientists learn about the disease and treat
patients. Nevertheless, we have tried to provide information to
international organizations to ensure that Taiwan can make the maximum
contribution to solving this health problem.
The effort to understand and control SARS continues. Viral experts seek
answers to important questions. Doctors and health professionals on the
front line of the battle against SARS need as much information as possible
to be able to deal with the disease. Moreover, like the WHO, international
health officials need as much data as possible about SARS and the way it
behaves in different environments and among different populations.
Taiwan, with a population larger than those of three-quarters of the
countries of the world, is a piece of a global puzzle that experts need
to understand to cope with the virus. Taiwan has long wanted not only to
benefit from the WHO's expertise but also to share the responsibility that
all countries have to global public health. Many health care professionals
around the world have expressed their support for Taiwan's admission to
the WHO as an observer. We are grateful.
We hope that at the WHO meeting on May 19, this important organization
will invite Taiwan to be an observer. Taiwan's people should not be excluded
from efforts to defeat SARS. Nor should the rest of the world be denied
the important contribution Taiwan can and wants to make to global health.
The writer is president of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
2003 The Washington Post Company
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全儒全碩是全賢
腦中真書藏萬卷
掌握文武半邊天
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