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The medical team pose with Ambassador Ger, Minister Burgin, and other local and Taiwanese officials in May. (IWN photo)
The medical team pose with Ambassador Ger, Minister Burgin, and other local and Taiwanese officials in May. (IWN photo)
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A Taiwan hospital has agreed to help the Ministry of Health in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to improve its Health Information System.

An eight-member medical team from the Chunghua Christian Hospital (CCH) in Taiwan is visiting St. Vincent and Grenadines from May 23 to June 12, the seventh such mission since 2010, when the CCH and the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in SVG were twinned.

The team, led by Dr. Nina Kao, chief executive officer of the CCH’s Overseas Medical Mission Center, is comprised of four medical doctors and two nurses specialising in endocrinology and metabolism, Chinese medicine and acupuncture, otorhinolaryngology, and emergency medicine, along with a health information specialist.

The team and local health officials have agreed that CCH will assist the ministry of Health in SVG in four areas aimed at advancing the Health Information System.

This will be done by introducing a barcode system, solving interface-related issues, developing telemedicine, and sharing experience on legal aspect of health information.

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The Health Information System provide electronic personal identification codes and records for every member of the population and improves health through the availability of better reliable and timely health information.

It also improves monitoring of national, regional and international indicators, and improves accountability and ensures evidence-based decision-making.

CCH will also cooperate with the Ministry of Health on building mapping data in order to more effectively control and prevent diabetic diseases and hold a two-day regional conference on the issue.

The CCH medical team held several meetings with local health officials to discuss the Health Information System and diabetic disease control on May 26 and 27.

The team also conducted site visits to Ministry of Health, Wellness, and the Environment, the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH), and the Kingstown and Campden Park clinics.

During the visit, CCH Medical Team is also partnering with staff at the MCMH in providing medical services to Vincentians, including outreach to clinics in Kingstown, Calliaqua, Georgetown, Stubbs, and Richland Park.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves welcomed the team during a visit to his office on May 26 and Governor General’s Deputy Susan Dougan 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 on May 24 hosted by Baushuan Ger, Taiwan’s ambassador to SVG.

With support from the 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 twined in August 2010, turning 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 branches 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. The hospital provides a range of healthcare services including acute and critical inpatient care, ambulatory care, wellness and prevention programmes.