The Ministry of Health on Wednesday received EC$583,000 worth of medical supplies, donated by the government of Taiwan, under its Civic Development Fund.
The equipment includes a vital signs monitor, two suction machines, an infant intensive care system, two washers, one drier, beds, trolleys, wheeled stretchers, toothbrushes and medical masks.
Minister of Health, Clayton Burgin, accepted the donation on behalf of his ministry and expressed appreciation to Taiwan’s ambassador to Kingstown, Weber Shih, for “the unwavering and evidently herculean effort which he continues to make to ensure that the bonds of friendship between our blessed lands continue to strengthen and grow and develop meaningfully in the interest of national development.
“I assure you, Your Excellency, that the professionals within the national health sector, and by extension the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, treasure what your country is doing today for us in the national health sector, as we make a concerted effort to navigate the turbulent waters of the current global economic climate to still provide a high quality of health care,” Burgin said.
He said the donation will have “a significant impact on the quality of patient care and treatment and must undoubtedly account for a high proportion of healthcare cost.
“I am advised that the choice of equipment is indeed appropriate and will meet our priorities. I am also advised that any donation of equipment and medical supplies can be of benefit to hospitals in resource-poor settings, but the recipients have a responsibility to manage the donations, to ensure that they are benefit to all.”
The minister urged the healthcare professionals “to understand and appreciate that this generous donation is now the property of the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and must be used at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and also at the other rural hospitals and health centres for the benefit of the clients and must be appropriately accounted for”.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Shih said he was honoured to hand over the equipment and supplies on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China on Taiwan and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund.
“Today’s donation includes two parts. That first part is the medical equipment, funded by MOFA’s Civic Development Fund for this country. The second part is made available by Taiwan ICDF, with the cooperation of Taiwan’s Global Medical Instrument Supply Service (GMISS) programme. Over the years, our [two] countries have been attaching great importance to the cooperation in the medical field. Today, while treasuring our collaboration with this great country, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the continuing support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, and, more importantly, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the joint effort and contribution of our project sectors, including Taiwan ICDF, GMISS and the Changhua Christian Hospital.
“I am convinced that the equipment donated today will be utilised by the medical professionals in this country to boost the medical service … in the years to come. We look forward to continuous cooperation with you,” the ambassador said.