Taiwan’s allies voice support for its WHA participation during 144th session of WHO Executive Board

As the 144th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Executive Board (EB 144) convened in Geneva from 24 January to 1 February, several member nations voiced support for Taiwan's participation in the upcoming 2019 World Health Assembly (WHA) from 20-28 May. Dr Simon Mfanzile Zwane, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Eswatini and Vice Chairman of the WHO Executive Board, lauded Taiwan as “a country that successfully attained universal health coverage” and praised its assistance to Eswatini in strengthening its primary health care system. Pierre André Dunbar, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations (UN), stated that exclusion of any country to the WHA would result in a missing link in the global healthcare system. Julio César Peralta Rodas, Deputy Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the UN, highlighted Taiwan’s contributions to the field of healthcare, including its assistance in setting up 23 health care facilities in Paraguay.

In addition to statements from Eswatini, Haiti and Paraguay, the US House of Representatives showed its support by passing a House Resolution calling for Taiwan’s return to the WHO on 23 January, the day before the EB 144 convened. President Tsai Ing-wen and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked allies for their support.