Vincentians will over the next three weeks have an opportunity to experience the benefits of acupuncture and other Chinese medical treatments as a Taiwan medical mission visits various health centres across the country. (See schedule at end of post)
Minister of Health Clayton Burgin and Permanent Secretary in that Ministry, Luis de Shong, were among the first persons to benefit from the medical technique, when Chinese medicine expert Dr. Shun-chang Ian Chang made a presentation dubbed “Get the Point: Acupuncture in Healthcare” in Kingstown on Tuesday.
Chang is among a seven-member medical team from Changhua Christian Hospital (CCH) in Taiwan that is on a three-week mission to this country.
The team comprises the leader, four doctors and two nurses, including Chang, a specialist from CCH’s Department of Chinese Medicine.
Speaking at the event, Weber Shih, Taiwan’s ambassador to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, noted that while acupuncture is a key component of Chinese medicine, over the years, it has become a popular form of alternative and complementary medicine in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world.
“Today, we have the pleasure to invite a specialist of Chinese medicine from CCH to make a presentation,” he said.
Shih said that since establishing ties in 1981, Taiwan-SVG relation has become stronger and stronger, through various areas of cooperation, such as infrastructure, agriculture, education, Taiwan scholarship, and information communication technology.
“A healthy country is a wealthy country. Considering that, a partnership for healthy and sustainable development is the main theme for Taiwan’s international cooperation and that health is extremely vital to the sustainable development, we therefore have priorities medical care on the agenda of our bilateral cooperation and conducted through equipment donation, medical training and exchanges between hospitals in particular,” the envoy further said.
He noted that in addition to the medical missions, CCH has offered training courses to doctors, medical engineers and laboratory technicians from MCMH, under the auspices of the Taiwan government.
And, Minister Burgin said the benefits of the collaboration remain invaluable and can only redound to the benefits of citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Burgin said that Vincentian professional are deriving much benefit from attachment at CCH, and noted the role of the Taiwan Embassy and expressed appreciation to the ambassador and his staff for making the arrangements annually.
“Mr. Ambassador, your role in these arrangements is also worthy of the highest commendation. Sir, it is evident that you understand and appreciate the enormous support which any visiting medical mission can lend to the delivery of healthcare in a resource challenged country like St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the health minister said.
“I thank the visiting health professionals once again for their demonstration of enormous service to humanity. What they are going is of immense value to this country, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines would be very happy indeed for your services,” Burgin said.
At Tuesday’s function, Nina Goa, CEO of overseas medical team of CCH, presented 600 colostomy bags to MCMH.
Schedule of visits to clinics:
Kingstown:
Wednesday, May 28, 8 a.m.: Chinese Medicine (MCMH Outpatient Clinic)
8.a.m: Chest Internal Medicine (Asthma Clinic Kingstown)
Wednesday, June 4, 7:30 a.m.: Chinese Medicine (MCMH Outpatient Clinic)
Georgetown:
Thursday, May 22, 9 a.m.: — Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine, Obstetric & Gynaecology
Thursday, May 29, 9 a.m.: Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine, Obstetric & Gynaecology
Thursday, June 5, 9 a.m.: Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine, Obstetric & Gynaecology
Stubbs Poly Clinic: Monday May 26, 9a.m.: Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine, Obstetric & Gynaecology
Monday, June 2, 9 a.m.: Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine, Obstetric & Gynaecology
Richland Park:
Tuesday May 27, 8 a.m. — Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine
Tuesday, June 3, 8 a.m. — Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine
Mesopotamia:
Tuesday May 27, 9 a.m. — Obstetric & Gynaecology
Tuesday, June 3, 9 a.m. — Obstetric & Gynaecology
Calliaqua Clinic:
Wednesday May 27, 8 a.m. — Obstetric & Gynaecology
Wednesday, June 4, a a.m. — Obstetric & Gynaecology
Barrouallie Health Centre:
Friday, May 30, 9 a.m. — Chinese Medicine, Chest Internal Medicine, Obstetric & Gynaecology
We can go one better than that, our PM can introduce them to OBEAH, “if I work Obeah, I only work Obeah for the Lord”. A dead white chicken, chicken blood poured on the head of a believer, will do absolutly nothing for those seeking relief.
I see from the second photo that even the local Masons are getting treatment during rituals.