An American doctor who has served Taiwan's Aborigines for 22 years was decorated yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Council of Aboriginal Affairs.
Robert G. Long, a pediatrician, was awarded the Foreign Friend Medal by the ministry, as well as a decoration from the Council of Aboriginal Affairs, in recognition of his services to the Aborigines of Taitung County.
He has worked at the Taitung Christian Hospital since arriving in Taiwan in 1979.
One of Long's most notable achievements in his 24-year career in Taiwan was his work to ensure that all 24,800 elementary school children in the county received a physical examination, the first time such a big project had been carried out there.
Long also has a reputation for his willingness to visit remote areas and make house calls -- often in terrible weather -- which saved the lives of many children.
The Taitung Christian Hospital and Taitung County Commissioner Hsu Ching-yuan (
Hsu told those at the party that he owed Long a long-overdue thank-you because his daughter was rushed to the Taitung Christian Hospital about 10 years ago and received careful treatment from Long.
Long will retire at the end of this month and return to New York. However, he said he will come back to Taitung to visit.
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