CASTRIES, St Lucia – Taiwan donated a new batch of 60,000 surgical masks to help Saint Lucia combat COVID-19 on May 21, 2020.
H.E. Ambassador Douglas Cheng-Tsung Shen and Mary Isaac, minister for health and wellness presided over the ceremony. This marks the third batch of medical equipment donation from Taiwan to Saint Lucia since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The equipment was transferred to the ministry of health and wellness.
Taiwan has donated 100,000 masks and six sets of thermal imaging body temperature detection system. It is expected to donate 200,000 more surgical masks, 5,000 N95 masks, 4,000 protective suits (for indoors and outdoors) 450 portable handheld thermometers, three forehead thermometers with display screens, two Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machines (for COVID-19 testing) with 720 test kits and 20,000 hydroxychloroquine expected soon.
Ambassador Shen and minister Isaac exchanged views on various issues regarding public health cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Shen commended the government of Saint Lucia and minister Isaac for supporting Taiwan’s cause at the World Health Assembly (WHA) May 18, emphasised that “Taiwan should be part of the World Health Organization (WHO) to further contribute to global health and the fight against trans-border diseases. WHO has rejected Taiwan’s participation purely for political reasons”, he said.
Minister Isaac thanked Taiwan for its continuous support and particularly the comprehensive cooperation model between Taiwan and Saint Lucias’ “natural affinity with Taiwan “a part of us.”