Taiwan to donate US$1 million to WHO to fight Ebola

President Tsai Ing-wen announced on Saturday that Taiwan will donate US$1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to fight the Ebola virus, even though the country was excluded from the annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the highest decision making body of the WHO.

Tsai said despite the exclusion from the WHA due to opposition from China, Taiwan is determined to continue its contribution to the world’s health enhancement by donating the funds to combat Ebola, which first appeared in 1976 in Sudan and Congo.

Eloba, transmitted through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids of infected people, has become one of the most virulent diseases in the world.

On behalf of Tsai, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang told the press that Taiwan is a health enhancement power in the world so the country is willing to pledge such financial aid to fight Eloba’s spread.

Huang said the donation showed Taiwan’s willingness to take responsibility as a member of the international community.

Tsai made the announcement when she received a delegation led by Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, which just returned from Geneva where it solicited support from WHO members for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA and touted Taiwan’s role in disease prevention on the sidelines of the 71st WHA meeting.

Original source: Focus Taiwan
Published on 26 May 2018