Health officials learn more about Diabetes Prevention and Control

The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) held a luncheon on Diabetes Monitoring, Care and Prevention on May 29 at the Grenadines House.{{more}}

The keynote speaker, Metabolism and Endocrinologist Dr. I-chieh Mao, a member of the Medical Team from the Changhua Christian Hospital (CCH), shared with SVG Health officials, Doctors and Nurses CCH’s experience and achievements in the prevention and control of the disease. He also pointed out the feasible cooperation between CCH and Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) in the future.

Ambassador Weber Shih said in his remark that over the past 30 plus years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations, the bilateral cooperation has been bearing juicy fruits in many fields. He said that considering it is vital to sustainable development, health care among others has been prioritized in recent years as an area to broaden and deepen the existing cordial cooperation. He is thankful to the CCH for supporting the initiative of the Taiwan Government with passion. He pointed out that according to the information released by the World Health Organization, Noncommunicable Diseases – or NCDs-like diabetes, heart attack and strokes, chronic respiratory disease account for over 63% of deaths in the world today. Every year NCDs kill 9 million people under 60 and the socio-economic impact is staggering, he added. He also mentioned that for setting a new international agenda, the United Nations held a High Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control in 2011. He believed that Dr. Mao’s presentation would be conducive to the exchange of view among CCH and MCMH and brought the awareness to the public in terms of diabetes prevention and control.

Minister of Health Clayton Burgin and MCMH’’s Medical Director Dr. Simone Keizer-Beache both expressed a heartfelt appreciation for all the assistance provided by Taiwan and attached great importance to the visit of CCH medical Team and its medical service for the SVG public. Besides Minister Burgin and Dr. Keizer, the Permanent Secretary of Health Luis de Shong, Chief Medical Officer Dr. St. Clair Thomas, Chairperson of SVG Medical Association Dr. Rosalind Ambrose and MCMH Medical Staff also attended the luncheon.

CCH has sent 3 medical teams to SVG since twinning with MCMH 3 years ago. This time the CCH medical team comprises Pulmonologist Dr. Ming-tai Lin, Metabolism and Endocrinologist Dr. I-chieh Mao, Gastroenterologist Dr. Yen-chih Lin, Diabetes Nurse Ms. Chiao-yun Chen and Nurse Ms. Shu-wei Lin. They returned to Taiwan on May 15.