A medical team of eight from the Chunghua Christian Hospital (CCH) in Taiwan is visiting St Vincent and Grenadines from May 23 to June 12, 2015.

This is the seventh visit of the CCH Medical Team to SVG since 2010. The team, led by Dr Nina Kao, CEO of the CCH’s Overseas Medical {{more}}Mission Centre, comprises four medical doctors and two nurses with the specialties of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Otorhinolaryngology, and Emergency Medicine, along with a health information specialist.

The CCH Medical Team held several meetings with local health officials to discuss the issues of a health information system and diabetic disease control on May 26 and 27. The team also conducted site visits to the Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment (MOHWE), the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), Kingstown Clinic, and Campden Park Clinic.

According to a release from the Taiwanese Embassy, the team and local health officials have reached consensus that CCH will assist the MOHWE on four fronts to advance the SVG Health Information System by introducing a bar code system, solving interface-related issues, developing telemedicine, and sharing experience on legal aspects of health information. CCH will also cooperate with the Ministry on building mapping data in order to more effectively control and prevent diabetic diseases and holding a two-day regional conference on the issue.

During the visit, the CCH medical team also worked hand in hand with colleagues of MCMH in providing medical services to Vincentians, including outreach to local clinics located in Kingstown, Calliaqua, Georgetown, Stubbs Poly, Richland Park.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves warmly welcomed the visit of the medical team at Cabinet Room on May 26.

Governor General’s Deputy Susan Dougan also received the medical team on May 27. Minister of Health Clayton Burgin lauded CCH’s continued efforts to provide medical assistance to SVG at a welcome luncheon party on May 24, hosted by Ambassador Baushuan Ger.

With support from the ROC (Taiwan) Government, the CCH is set to send two medical teams to SVG in 2015. The second CCH team will visit SVG in late November.

The CCH and MCMH were twinned in August, 2010, which turned a new page for medical cooperation between Taiwan and SVG. Apart from sending medical teams, the CCH also offers training programmes for doctors, biomedical engineers, and laboratory technicians from MCMH.

Changhua Christian Hospital is a medical centre located in central Taiwan with 10 branch and affiliated hospitals, more than 3,500 beds and more than 7,000 health workers. It is one of the country’s premier academic medical centres and a major referral centre for the Mid-South area and beyond. The hospital provides a range of health care services, including acute and critical in-patient care, ambulatory care, wellness and prevention programmes.