Fifty-two-year-old Twu Shiing-Jer (
"To me, a deputy is like a buffer between the director-general and the bureaus under the department," said Twu, who is a former director-general of the department's Center of Disease Control (CDC).
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
"A deputy minister needs to oversee the policies carried out by different sectors under the department while following the director-general in fulfilling his vision of the nation's health-care programs."
Unlike Huang, who had no previous experience as a government official prior to becoming the deputy minister, Twu has worked in the government sector since 1995 at both the Bureau of Health under the Taipei City Government and at the CDC.
Known as a supporter of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) during his Taipei mayoral campaign in 1994, Twu was promoted to become the director of the Bureau of Health two years after Chen became mayor. Stepping into the position at the age of 45, Twu was then the youngest person to serve as the bureau's director.
After finishing his term at the Taipei City Government in 1998, Twu began work at the CDC, where he dedicated himself to improving the nation's ability to prevent and control disease.
While at CDC, Twu pushed for the establishment of a digital disease information system that enables more efficient disease-control measures. He also set up a "digital museum of diseases" and the nation's first virtual magazine to promote health education.
"Health has no boundaries. Diseases do not respect borders," said Twu, stressing the importance of establishing an efficient disease-control network to combat epidemics.
One of Twu's major achievements has been the effective control and monitoring of enterovirus (EV).
Through CDC efforts in health education, research and the establishment of an effective monitoring network, the deadly impact of EV has been gradually reduced since a major outbreak in 1998 claimed the lives of 78 children.
Twu, who received a doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1991, has also been dubbed the "Anti-AIDS warrior" by the local media for his long-term devotion to fighting the disease.
In addition to writing articles regarding AIDS prevention, offering the first outpatient service to AIDS patients at the Venereal Disease Control Center and establishing AIDS-related courses at National Taiwan University, Twu also pushed for the establishment of the nation's first AIDS organization -- the Light of Friendship AIDS Control Association (
"Twu is a creative person with lots of new ideas. It is not easy for his colleagues to keep up with him," said Wu Shu-ying (吳秀英), director of the Venereal Disease Control Center and a former colleague of Twu's at the Taipei City Go-vernment.
"I don't think a change of position will make a big difference since he has always devoted himself to whatever he does. As he is now in a higher position, I hope he will still maintain his past efforts to prevent and control AIDS," Wu said.
Asked whether he has prepared himself to face what the former deputy minister called the vituperation and lobbying pressure from lawmakers, Twu said his experience in working at the Taipei City Government should help him face such challenges.
"I have encountered city councils when I worked for the Taipei City Government. I do not regard the pressure from the legislators to be a serious problem as long as I am willing to sit down, communicate with them and clearly make my point," Twu said.
"It is only natural that a new position will bring about new challenges. Therefore, I will learn as much as I can and do my best," Twu said, citing President Chen's famous comment: "Be what you are and do the best you can."
Chun Kun-ching (鍾坤井), Twu's close friend and the chairperson of the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan (台灣醫界聯盟基金會), asked Twu to stick to his ideals no matter what happens.
"Do not yield to pressure from legislators as long as you know you are doing the right thing. Just do the best you can and we are here to support you," Chung said.
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