By Martin Banks - 20th May 2009
Only by uniting together can the world be capable of fighting against transnational health threats
Dr Ching-Chuan Yeh
EU member states have been urged to join the rest of the world in combating a possible influenza pandemic.
Addressing the 62nd world health assembly (WHA) on Wednesday, Taiwan's health minister Dr Ching-Chuan Yeh said, "Only by uniting together can the world be capable of fighting against transnational health threats."
His five-minute speech marks a historic occasion as it is the first time in 38 years that Taiwan has been allowed to participate in a specialised agency of the United Nations.
Taiwan has been trying to become a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 1971 and this year has been granted observer status in the WHA at its meeting in Geneva under the name "Chinese Taipei".
The conference, attended by nearly 3000 participants, including health ministers, doctors and medical experts from around the world, has been cut from the normal 10 days to five to allow participants to return to their home countries to prepare for a possible pandemic.
The Taiwanese minister told the assembly, "It is a great privilege for Chinese Taipei to participate in the WHA.
"In a world where diseases transcend national borders, international health affairs require broader multilateral cooperation. The participation of Chinese Taipei in the WHA is imperative as the world is witnessing the threat of a possible H1N1 pandemic influenza at this juncture in time.
"Only by uniting together can the world be capable of fighting against transnational health threats. For all these years, the WHO has served as a pivotal and reliable platform of all international health matters.
"We therefore cherish this opportunity to work alongside our counterparts from all over the world.
"Chinese Taipei will therefore continue to abide by the norms and rules of the international health community, and will cooperate with all WHO members in the global health arena.
"We are enthusiastic about, and capable of, contributing to the work and activities of the WHO.
"We are the forerunner in viral hepatitis control, tobacco control and e-health internationally. I pledge we will contribute even more to the international community starting today.
"We believe that the inclusion of Chinese Taipei in the WHO activities will undoubtedly strengthen the world's ability in dealing with public health emergencies."
The minister, who as a hospital doctor helped spearhead efforts to combat the outbreak of Sars in 2003, added, "The WHO has always played an important role in disease control.
"We are very happy to announce that we have already joined the international health regulations network since January this year. This is a significant step forward for Chinese Taipei's management and control of communicable diseases.
"And for the world, there will be one less breach in the WHO's line of defence against the pandemic flu. We have mobilised our biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to join in this battle.
"We are willing to share with you our new advances and experiences. I have full confidence that united we can meet the challenges of this pandemic flu."
He added, "The participation of Chinese Taipei is not only for the benefit of the 23 million people in Taiwan but also in the best interest of the 6.7 billion people around the world."
