The dentistry field in Taiwan has an “8020” goal of helping most people retain at least 20 natural teeth at the age of 80 and beyond, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, as he met with members of the Taiwan Dental Association (TWDA).
A delegation of TWDA members who traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, in May to voice support for Taiwan’s participation in the annual World Health Assembly (WHA), the decisionmaking body of the WHO, visited Lai at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.
Lai said he was glad to meet the delegation and convey his gratitude on behalf of the nation, as Taiwan’s participation not only concerns Taiwanese people’s right to health, but also affects global disease prevention.
Photo: CNA
“We clearly know that if our health ministry had not been on high alert, the COVID-19 pandemic would have caused more harm to Taiwan, and even to the world,” he said. “This is an important reason why we want to join the WHO.”
The dentistry field’s contribution to people’s health is not limited to speaking up for Taiwan during the WHA, but also their daily efforts to take care of people’s oral health, he said.
“Dentists have not let the people’s expectations or the government’s support down, as throughout the years, they have promoted oral health to students on campuses and families in households, and even voluntarily provided many oral health services in remote areas,” Lai said.
Moreover, under the TWDA’s efforts and the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s support, people can receive regular government-funded dental checkups and cleanings, he said.
“It is very important for people to get a checkup and cleaning every six months for early detection and treatment of potential problems,” he said.
The National Health Insurance System provides free dental checkups and cleanings every six months for people older than 12, while pregnant women, people with xerostomia, diabetes or cancer, had a stroke or are on dialysis can get it every three months, the Presidential Office said.
During his presidential election campaign, Lai pledged to work with healthcare professionals to create a healthy Taiwan, and it includes a clear goal held by the nation’s dentistry field — the “8020 campaign” that the WHO also promotes.
“The ‘8020’ goal is for people to retain at least 20 natural teeth at the age of 80 or beyond,” he said.
As Taiwan’s democracy and freedom have been recognized by international society, and the nation’s economy and industries are constantly advancing, the improvement of the people’s health is crucially important, Lai said.
He said he was looking forward to all healthcare professionals, including dentists, physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others to work together and do their part in creating a “healthy Taiwan.”
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS