From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


Taiwan Call to SARS action


From Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>
Date Fri, 16 May 2003 15:08:18 +0800

DATE: 13 May 2003

Membership

Dear Sister and Brothers

Warm greetings in the Name of Christ from the PCT trusting this
finds you and your colleagues in good health.  This is certainly
an insecure era we live in and seemingly every region of the
world is affected either directly or indirectly by one issue or
another.  How grateful as a community of faith we can lift our
eyes and heart to the Sovereign God.  For the past several months
the East Asia Region is constantly in the news due to the
activity of the SARS virus that has generated much anxiety, fear
and instability.  As you are undoubtedly aware, the most severely
affected countries as listed by WHO are Canada, China (including
Hong Kong), Phillippines, Singapore and Taiwan.

Permit me to reflect on our local situation and PCT concerns.  At
the onset Taiwan had a minimal number of cases but unfortunately,
in recent weeks the problem escalated greatly beyond
expectations.  The Taiwan government and health authorities are
working very hard to stabilize the situation as are the public
sectors.  Since last month our government wisely initiated
mandatory quarantine and other travel restrictions as part of the
measures to combat the spread of the disease.  Thus far the
populace on the whole, while obviously concerned and fearful, are
maintaining an attitude of responsible caution and cooperation as
more and more is learnt of this previously unknown lethal virus
and its activity.

As a church the PCT continues with careful monitoring and several
of our national and international programmes have already been
postponed or cancelled.  Needles to say  we covet the prayers and
moral support of our sisters and brothers world wide during this
critical time as I am sure, do our neighbouring countries.  We
would appreciate if all PCT partners would join us in praying for
the control and end of the SARS epidemic which is more than a
regional crisis.  May God grant insight to all professionals
world wide who are working so hard to understand this previously
unknown virus.	In addition to praying for the victims and their
families we especially pray for the protection of all health and
medical staff caring for the patients.	Those in the front line
are working under great physical and emotional stress and strain
more than we can imagine.

Secondly, with all that is happening we cannot but once more
focus on the stark reality that as a nation Taiwan is still
excluded from the World Health Organization (WHO).  Despite this,
the Taiwan government from the beginning (14 March 2003)
dutifully and responsibly reported to WHO and CDC about the SARS
situation in Taiwan.  In addition they faithfully provide
regular and wide spread media coverage keeping the public
informed and updated throughout about developments both in our
country, the region and the world.  In all probability you heard
via the mass media on 3 May two specialists from WHO arrived in
Taiwan to assist our government evaluate and better understand
the escalating SARS situation and to advise us.  We also note
with gratitude two personnel from the CDC USA arrived in Taiwan
16 March that is, within two days of CDC Taiwan reporting to the
global community the first two confirmed cases of SARS.

 While the arrival of WHO has been a great moral boost and
encouragement to our people and government one and the same time
there is a sense of deep regret.  When they arrived, SARS had
been active in Taiwan already seven weeks and the situation was
getting worse.	There were 13 deaths reported between 17 March
and 7 May (as at 12 May number of deaths stood at 24), mandatory
quarantine was already being enforced while WHO itself lists our
country in the international  travel advisory  category as well
as in the  Pattern C of local transmission .  Ironically, though
WHO personnel are here they are obviously working under WHO
instructions which prohibit them speaking directly to our
government officials or making any public statements.  The
current situation takes our minds back to 1998 when the  entero
virus  infection claimed the lives of nearly 80 Taiwanese
children while Taiwan s request for information in that dilemma
was ignored by WHO.  Similarly Taiwan s emergency aid and
voluntary relief consignments destined for UNICEF were refused by
WHO!  The inevitable question remains in peoples minds, had WHO
chose to reply to our government s invitation to come here from
the onset and granted CDC access to information, would Taiwan s
SARS statistics be different?

It is no secret that Taiwan continually campaigns for and
requests entry into WHO.  Despite the tireless efforts our
application to WHA last year, even for that of observer status,
was yet again denied.  This is certainly very grievous and an
incomprehensible state of affairs living as we do in such a
highly developed, technological age where the world has become a
global village community in so many respects.  (Note: the next
WHA - World Health Assembly convenes 19-28 May 2003).

Based on our common faith, Christian ethics, love and belief in
the basic human rights of all peoples the Presbyterian Church in
Taiwan	humbly asks our  partner churches and ecumenical
organizations, to bring this vital matter to the attention of
your constituent members.  We especially ask that PCT partner
churches and related organizations through relevant committees
and programmes, not only make this an issue of prayer but be
willing to actively support and promote Taiwan s entry into WHO.
We further ask our partner churches and individuals to bring the
plight of the 23 million people of Taiwan to the attention of
WHO, the UN and their local MPs/Senators and Governments and
lobby their respective governments to support Taiwan s
application for entry into WHO.  PCT  notes with appreciation the
support of the EU and the USA in recent times.

In some respects it is both ironic and sad to note that Taiwan is
not only one of the founding members of WHO but also one of the
most prominent former staff members of WHO is the renowned and
highly acclaimed  Taiwanese native-born Professor Dr. Lin
Tsung-Yi.  Without a doubt Dr Lin  made a significant
contribution to health and education in Taiwan and subsequently
to WHO both as an advisor in his own field of specialities
(psychiatric epidemiology, psychiatric education and mental
health services worldwide) and as a staff member when in 1965 he
was appointed Chief of Research in the Mental Health Unit of WHO
in Geneva.

PCT sincerely and firmly believes the question of WHO membership
transcends  politics - it is  a matter of basic human rights
which not only affect our nation but the entire world community
as is, yet again, so poignantly evident during the current SARS
epidemic.  The 23 million citizens of Taiwan, not forgetting the
thousands of foreign residents on this island (including
missionary personnel, contract/migrant workers, international
representatives), should not be deprived of their right to the
services WHO provides.	Furthermore, the fact that our nation is
denied the right to participate fully  in WHO leaves a major
loophole in the global battle against epidemics and the general
public health and well being of all God s people.  The Taiwanese
people and government have already contributed substantially to
humanitarian aid and have provided international medical
assistance for many years to other countries.	Is it too much to
ask that we be given the dignity and the right to act as
responsible world citizens along side other nations?

With our appreciation for your attention and in hopeful
anticipation of your immediate action.

Sincerely yours,

William J. K. Lo
General Secretary


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