Liver disease, dubbed the “national disease” of Taiwanese for decades, continues to take the lives of an average of 35 people in the nation each day, and nearly 85 percent of liver cancer cases are caused by hepatitis B and hepatitis C, the Liver Disease Prevention and Treatment Research Foundation said.
The foundation made the remarks at a ceremony in Taipei on Saturday celebrating its 20th anniversary, during which it vowed to step up its decades-long effort to eliminate the cancer that has been the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country.
“If every patient with hepatitis B and hepatitis C is willing to receive regular screening tests and treatments before their condition turns into cirrhosis, we will be able to put an end to liver cancer within 20 years,” foundation chief executive officer Yang Pei-ming (楊培銘) said.
“Most liver disease patients pay little attention to the illnesses as they do not exhibit any noticeable symptoms. It is our job to encourage them to receive proper medical treatment and regular examinations, to avoid the notorious liver trilogy of hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer,” Yang said.
Government statistics show that there are more than 2 million hepatitis B carriers and 400,000 hepatitis C patients in the nation.
Research has also suggested that people with chronic infection with hepatitis B, which can be medically managed, are 100 times more likely to develop liver cancer than those without the infection.
Foundation chairman Sheu Jin-chuan (許金川) said the foundation was established by six medical experts in 1994, including late Academia Sinica academician Sung Juei-low (宋瑞樓), who was dubbed the father of Taiwan’s liver disease study.
"Ever since Sung decided to lead a group of doctors in taking off their white coats and establishing the foundation, free liver disease screening tests have been offered to more than 400,000 people, and a distance equivalent to 177 nationwide trips around Taiwan has been traveled to provide free clinical services and health education to people living in remote areas," Hsu said.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
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