Jen Chi Hospital reopens doors

"Although Jen Chi is only a small star in the medical sky, we are bright enough to light up the whole of Wanhua. Cheers to Jen Chi! Cheers to Wanhua! Cheers to Taiwan!" Chen Shu-hui (陳淑慧), a nurse from Jen Chi Hospital's emergency department, exclaimed when she gave a speech at the hospital's reopening ceremony yesterday.

The group of about 20 young nurses present at the ceremony, were laughing and shouting throughout the event. Even after the ceremony was concluded and they went inside the hospital, they were still playing around with each other and giggling.

"Nuts! Nuts! You all went nuts!" another employee sitting behind the register counter teased the exhilarated nurses.

"Yes we are happy to return to work. After all, it's been one and a half months now," a nurse said.

In Taiwan, hospitals with a history stretching more than a century are not many. Jen Chi is one of the few.

Jen Chi Hospital, which was established between 1861 and 1875, has a reputation as the foremost shelter for homeless people in Taipei.

Yesterday, the ceremony was a huge affair with much flair. An impressive crowd attended the ceremony, and loads of sunflowers were given to medical staff as a token of appreciation.

Pupils local elementary schools were invited to perform on stage, which included singing and xiangsheng, or humorous banter.

An array of VIPs graced the occasion, including deputy director-general of the Department of Health Lee Lung-teng (李龍騰), Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), director of the Taipei City Bureau of Health Chang Heng (張珩) and epidemiology expert Yeh Chin-chuan (葉金川).

The hospital, together with the Wanhua business community, held the ceremony to celebrate the return of the hospital and to further promote local trade. The hospital was sealed off on April 29.

The hospital is due to reopen officially tomorrow, resuming its normal services. It was announced yesterthat from tomorrow to Dec. 12 the hospital would not charge registration fees.

"Jen Chi is a hospital with a long tradition and we cannot allow it to fall. If Jen Chi can recover, Wanhua can. With all local people working together, Wanhua will definitely have a better, rosier future," Ma said.

He used to live across from the hospital when he was a boy and he also said that he used to seek treatment from the hospital.

"Jen Chi will be transformed from a general hospital to a community hospital, focusing more on the needs of local residents. We will try to understand what the local residents need from us, and take the initiative to offer services such as visiting patients and old people at home."

Chang Chih-fa (張志發), the hospital spokesman, said "We hope that in future, when Wanhua residents require medical services, they will think of us first."

The local business community, including the famous Hwashi Street (華西街), has also been hit hard by SARS.

The business community suggested a theme, "Sunny Wanhua, rebuilding Menchia" (the old name for Wanhua) for a series of community activities planned to help businesses recuperate.

"To help bring back the crowds, we will present more than 10 activities from tomorrow to August 16," Wanhua district chief, Hsu Han-hsiung (徐漢雄), said.

These will include promotional sales on Hwashi Street and various arts events at local sites.

While seemed well, there was still one important issue that remained unsolved.

Hospital Superintendent Liao Cheng-hsiung (廖正雄), whose certificate had been revoked by the doctors' disciplinary board, was also present at the ceremony. Later he was seen wearing a doctor's white robe inside the hospital.

"Superintendent Liao has not yet received any official document about the revoking of his certificate. He has been on leave, though, and we haven't arranged for him to see any patients yet," hospital spokesman Chang said.

"Yes, the board has indeed made a decision regarding Liao, but the order is now being reviewed by the chairman of the board. When he has finished with it, the matter can be referred to the Department of Health. The department is responsible for executing any orders," Shen Hsi-che (沈希哲), chief of the health bureau's third division, said.