President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on Tuesday sent a message to a "Health and Human Rights" seminar held at the British House of Commons, urging the world to support Taiwan's bid to participate in the WHO.
The message was read by former minister of health Lee Ming-liang (
The seminar was jointly chaired by Reverend Martin Smyth, a member of the parliament, and Terence Duffy, an organizer of the seminar from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland. More than 10 representatives from the UN, the Red Cross, Physicians for Human Rights and other non-governmental organizations took part in the seminar.
Chen said in his message that Taiwan stands ready to play its part in the international community, with the nation's medical and scientific community representing a generation that has witnessed great strides in the way of economic development, political reform and public health.
He pointed out that Taiwan has achieved an "economic miracle" by raising its annual per capita GNP from less than US$200 in the 1950s to more than US$14,000 by 2000 and that its mortality rate has declined dramatically. However, Taiwan has continued to be excluded from the WHO, he said.
"As we strive to take our rightful place in these forums, we look to friends around the world -- including the British Parliament -- for support in accomplishing this mission," he said.
In his own presentation to the seminar, Lee noted that for 30 years, Taiwanese health officials have been barred from attending the WHO.
Lee noted that during the 1988 enterovirus outbreaks, the WHO did not provide timely assistance and as a result Taiwan missed the most opportune moment to control the epidemic and 78 children died.
He also highlighted the fact that Taiwanese medical teams were not allowed to help in the rescue work following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey Aug. 17, 1999 and Red Cross teams were unable to come help Taiwan following the 921 quake in 1999.
Lee warned that by excluding Taiwan, the WHO has created a large gap in its worldwide disease prevention network, stressing that this is not only a loss but also a threat to the world.
Taiwan's representative to the UK, Tien Hung-mao (
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