Taiwan donates second batch of medical supplies to SVG

Last Friday, May 22, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment received a second batch of Medical Supplies from the Republic of China on Taiwan to aid in the continued fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The shipment included four ventilators, a thermal imaging device for recording temperatures at the arrival lounge at the Argyle International Airport (AIA) and over 60,000 medical masks.

Minister of Health Luke Browne (second from left) and Ambassador of Taiwan Calvin Ho standing in front of the donated ventilators

The four ventilators have been placed at the government’s Isolation Centre at Argyle.

Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Luke Browne accepted the items and addressed the gathering.

He stated that his Ministry is grateful to the Embassy of Taiwan for the items and said that he looks forward to continuing the work that begun many years ago when the relationship between the two countries was formed.

The minister, in his address, highlighted the necessity of the donated items in continuing to fight and control Covid-19 in SVG; he also noted that it is better to have the equipment and not use them than to be in want and not have them.

Ministry of Health officials with Ambassador of Taiwan to SVG at the handing over ceremony

At the handing over, Ambassador Ho encouraged the small gathering to continue being their brother’s keeper; he highlighted that this was the second batch of supplies that his country, which has a long standing relationship with St Vincent and the Grenadines, has delivered. He also noted that there would be other shipments in the near future and that Taiwan is committed to maintaining the productive relationship it has with SVG and would continue to assist where needs arise.